Owning a new build home comes with a ton of benefits, from the freedom to design your home as you please, to the long-lasting durability of the building materials. But did you know that newly built homes are also hugely beneficial for the environment? As the world becomes more environmentally conscious, there’s no better time to buy an eco-friendly home.

If you want your home to be eco friendly, new build houses have to be at the top of your list. With a Peabody apartment, you can save energy on heating, water and much more. Find out how you can enjoy home-ownership without hurting the environment below.

1. Energy efficient heating

As the cost of energy soars, you can rest assured knowing that your apartment consumes much less energy than the average home. This is most noticeable in the way that new builds keep your homes heated.

When it comes to saving energy on heating, a new build can’t be beat. Using a mix of air source heat pumps and gas combination boilers, a lot of new builds draw on renewable energy sources to keep you warm, while keeping NOx emissions very low. This means that you won’t just save money on energy bills - you’ll also be able to enjoy the smug feeling of knowing your home is good for the environment.

2. Energy efficient lighting

The energy-saving doesn’t stop with the way your home is heated - new builds also use energy-efficient light fixtures. High-efficiency CFL lights and LED lights can bring light to your home without using huge amounts of energy. For example, CFL lights use up to 75% less energy than the average lamp, which hugely reduces the impact it has on the environment.

3. Solar panels

New build homes make use of every natural energy source to keep your home in top working order - even sunlight. Most new build homes come installed with solar panels that harness the energy of the sun and convert it into electricity to power your home. And don’t worry about those grey weather days, solar panels even work on days where the sun doesn’t show its face. Using solar panels can significantly reduce energy bills and have relatively low maintenance costs, you'll only need to clean them a few times a year to keep them working in optimum order.

4. Thermal windows

You might just think of windows as a handy way to enjoy the outside world or look out for a postman delivering your parcel. But with a new build home, your window can transform into a source of energy in its own right. Making use of natural daylight, thermal windows keep your home warm and well-lit without the need to turn on your heating or light fixtures. Thermal windows are 2 to 4 times more efficient than older single glass windows, which means that you can expect your heating bills to drop by about 20%, a huge bonus in today's world where energy prices continue to rise.

5. Water-efficiency

Everyone loves a refreshing glass of water on a summer’s day, but it’s even more enjoyable when you know it comes from sustainable sources. Many new homes are built to reduce the amount of water that is used, with features like flow control and reduced water volumes. This way you can drink or use as much water as possible without feeling guilty about water wastage.

6. Cost-effective in the long run

Some people are put off from newly built homes because of the high initial price tags. But because new builds are made with eco friendly, durable building materials, they ultimately save you on costs in the long run. This is because you don’t need to pay the heavy cost of maintaining your home when things go wrong. You’ll also avoid the environmental effect of further building repairs.

As an added bonus, you can purchase most new build homes through Shared Ownership. This government backed scheme lets you buy a share of your property, while paying rent on the part that you don’t own. This means you won’t have to go through the hassle of saving for a hefty deposit.