Energy Efficiency & Everyday Performance Built Into Your Home

ENERGY PERFORMANCE THAT REFLECTS MODERN STANDARDS

When buying a new home, energy performance is one of the clearest indicators of how it will feel to live in — and how much it may cost to run over time.

Allison Homes properties are designed to achieve EPC ratings of A or B, placing them among the more energy efficient homes currently available in the UK. An EPC rating takes into account how a home is constructed, how it is heated, and how efficiently it uses energy for everyday living.

For comparison, many older homes in the UK fall into bands D to G, meaning they typically lose heat more quickly and require more energy to maintain comfortable temperatures.

In practical terms, a higher EPC rating doesn’t just reflect compliance — it reflects a home that has been designed from the ground up to use energy more effectively. This can contribute to more stable indoor temperatures, less reliance on constant heating, and potentially lower energy costs over time

INSULATION AND THERMAL PERFORMANCE

A well-insulated home behaves very differently to one that isn’t. Rather than constantly losing heat and needing to be reheated, it holds onto warmth and releases it more slowly.

Allison Homes uses a combination of modern insulation materials and thermally efficient construction methods to achieve this. External walls are built to reach a U-value of 0.24 W/m²K, which is a measure of how much heat passes through a structure.

To put that into context:

• A lower U-value means less heat escapes
• A value of 0.24 W/m²K indicates a high level of insulation performance
• Older properties can often have wall U-values more than double this figure

This performance is supported by materials such as glass mineral wool insulation, which works by trapping air within its structure to slow down heat transfer, and modern blockwork systems designed to balance thermal efficiency with structural strength and acoustic performance.

What this means in everyday life is that your home:

• Warms up more efficiently when heating is on
• Stays warmer for longer once heating is turned off
• Feels more consistent from room to room

This isn’t just about comfort — it also means the heating system doesn’t need to work as hard to maintain temperature.

MANAGING HEAT WHERE IT'S MOST VULNERABLE

Even in a well-insulated home, windows and doors remain one of the main areas where heat can escape. That’s why their specification is so important.

In Allison Homes, windows are designed to achieve a U-value of approximately 1.3 W/m²K, with patio doors at around 1.4 W/m²K. These figures represent how well they resist heat loss compared to older glazing systems, where values above 2.0 W/m²K are common.

The difference may seem small numerically, but across the full surface area of a home, it has a noticeable impact. Better-performing glazing helps to:

• Reduce cold spots near windows
• Minimise draughts
• Improve overall temperature consistency

In addition, the use of uPVC soffits and fascias contributes to the durability of the building envelope, helping protect against weather exposure while requiring minimal maintenance over time.

Together, these elements ensure that the parts of the home most exposed to the outside environment are designed to perform reliably.

REDUCING WATER WITHOUT CHANGING HABITS

Water efficiency is often overlooked, but it plays an important role in both environmental impact and household running costs.

Allison Homes are designed so that water usage is less than 100 litres per person per day. This is a deliberate reduction compared to the UK average of approximately 140–150 litres per person per day.

Over the course of a year, this reduction can amount to over 15,000 litres of water saved per person.

Rather than relying on behavioural changes, this is achieved through the specification of fittings throughout the home:

• Bathroom taps regulate flow to around 5 litres per minute
• Showers are limited to approximately 5.7 litres per minute
• Toilets are designed to flush effectively using 4.5 litres, or as little as 3 litres on a reduced flush
• Kitchen taps are also restricted to 5 litres per minute

These features are designed to work in the background, meaning you can use your home as normal while still benefiting from reduced consumption.

For households on a water meter, this can contribute to lower bills over time, while also supporting more efficient use of a shared resource.

AN OVERLOOKED PART OF COMFORT

A home’s performance isn’t just about temperature — it’s also about how it feels to live in.

Modern construction materials used in Allison Homes, including insulated wall systems and blockwork, also provide acoustic benefits. These materials help to reduce the transfer of sound between rooms and from external sources.

While this isn’t always something that’s immediately visible, it becomes noticeable in everyday life — whether that’s reducing noise from neighbouring rooms, limiting external disturbances, or simply creating a more settled environment.

This contributes to a home that feels quieter, more private and more comfortable overall.

DURABLE EXTERIOR MATERIALS

The external details of a home play an important role in how it performs over time.

Allison Homes uses uPVC soffits and fascias, which are designed to withstand exposure to weather without the need for regular maintenance. Unlike traditional timber, these materials do not require repainting and are resistant to moisture and decay.

For homeowners, this reduces the need for ongoing upkeep while helping the property maintain its appearance and structural protection over the long term.