Top Gear for Homes?
Love it or hate it, Top Gear is one of the most popular programmes on television. Amongst the inevitable clowning about, each week we are introduced to the newest models in the automotive world.
One thing that strikes me about cars is how the most innovative new features soon become commonplace. It is never long before what started out as an expensive option on the most luxurious car is a standard feature of every family hatchback.
Those features can be roughly split into two categories: those which directly relate to the performance, efficiency or safety of the car (things such as fuel injection, catalytic converters and airbags); and those which are more about making the overall motoring experience nicer (things such as CD players, air conditioning and heated seats).
I am struck by just how similar this is to the world of building new homes. Over the years, features which were once a luxury –double glazing for example –have become a standard finish. And the march of technology is accelerating that pace of change. When you are a house builder, you need to keep abreast of the new opportunities becoming available.
When we bring forward a new development, we always look to embrace whatever new technology is available to improve the homes that we are building. And much as in the automotive world, some of these technologies are about the performance and efficiency of the house itself, and some are about enhancing the experience of living in that home –what we like to call ‘liveability’.
Take for example our new site in Swaffham, which we are launching later this month. Here we are introducing two new things, which neatly illustrate the two aspects of technological change.
First, the performance of the homes themselves. Sustainability is the top priority for new home buyers at the moment, and so we have made a great leap by giving every home on the new site an ‘A’rating for energy efficiency. This has involved embracing technology which goes far beyond that demanded by the regulations: for example, triple glazing, solar PV panels on every roof and thicker insulation (400mm in the roof and 100mm in the walls).
Building regulations for new homes are pretty tough already, with high standards for energy efficiency. But by building ‘A’rated homes, buyers will save a staggering £13,500 over 20 years for a two bedroom home, rising to an incredible £19,850 over the same period for a four bedroom home.
Now for liveability. We are putting broadband ‘Fibre to the Home' on each of our new homes in Swaffham. This opens the way for a whole host of possibilities in the future with the use of smart technology and will make working from home so easy with incredibly fast broadband.
Performance and liveability –they are every bit as important in your home as they are in your car. Abel Homes strive constantly to deliver the highest levels of both.
Our Swan’s Nest site in Swaffham is launched on 28th March.