Buy new and keep the heat in this winter
The Big Freeze of 2010 could, according to some scientists become a yearly occurrence, and with the temperatures hitting lows of -20 degrees, more emphasis is placed on keeping warm, particularly within our homes.
Award-winning housebuilder Miller Homes is encouraging house hunters to consider a newly built property to ensure they are not caught out in future extreme cold winters.
More than half the heat lost in a typical home escapes through the walls or roof and more than 80 percent of home energy use is for heating and hot water. New homes are built to the latest environmental standards and are six times more energy efficient than older-style properties.
Steve McElroy, sales director for Miller Homes Yorkshire, one of the areas worst hit by the prolonged cold snap said: “The current weather conditions seriously highlight the importance of ensuring our homes are up to the job of keeping us safe and warm. A home needs to withstand these extreme conditions and conserve heat whilst helping its occupants to keep energy usage down.
“Miller is continually addressing these issues and provides homes that are built to high standards incorporating energy efficient and money saving measures.”
The latest innovations in design mean that all Miller homes benefit from both wall and roof insulation, low energy, high output heating systems, double glazing and in some cases self-closing interior doors – all these elements are designed to keep the heat in!
Even new homeowners can take measures to ensure the heat is kept in:
- Set your thermostat at around 21C and heat all the rooms you use in the day. If you can’t heat all your rooms make sure you keep your living room warm throughout the day and heat your bedroom before going to bed
- Set the timer on your heating system to come on before you get up and switch off when you go to bed
- Rather than turn the thermostat up in very cold weather, set the heating to come on earlier so you won’t be cold while you wait for your home to heat up
- Try to keep a temperature of above 18C in your bedroom overnight
- Keep doors shut and close curtains
Miller Homes currently has a broad selection of ‘warm’ properties available at developments across the region, from stylish starter homes to executive detached houses.
Properties range from one bedroom apartments priced from £69,995 to five bedroom detached homes from just £356,000. Miller also offers a range of financial assistance schemes to help with any budget or circumstances. The development showhomes and sales centres are open between 10.30am – 5.30pm, alternatively, visit millerhomes.co.uk for further information.
