A new housing development will save owners thousands of pounds on their energy bills thanks to solar technology and sustainably sourced timber.
The modern development constructed by Autograph homes is located on the corner of Goolden Street and Bathwell Road and contains a mixture of three-bed houses and one and two bedroom apartments.
Despite the fact a townhouse at viewpoint could cost as much as £495,000, in the long term those living in these houses will save huge amounts of money on their energy bills.
However, given that the townhouses are around £100,000 more expensive that the average Totterdown property, it could take about 100 years before the savings come to fruition.
READ MORE: Energy bills could be 'double cost of last year' say Bristol experts
Even if the new homeowners do not have an electric vehicle to go with their new eco-home they can at least live guilt-free in the knowledge that the carbon saved from the timber frame alone will save 4 tonnes of CO2 per year, the equivalent to that 'produced by two family cars in a year', according to the company brochure.
The new homes’ energy usage costs are estimated to be ten times cheaper than that of a standard Victorian home of a similar size meaning that on average those living at Viewpoint will pay £1,500 per year on energy bills.
Even a new build that has a B rating for energy efficiency will be more than twice as expensive when it comes to energy bills and possibly more given the current rise in prices.
Even if you are willing to pay £240,000 for a one-bedroom apartment at the recently completed Totterdown development you will be out of luck because all the homes were sold prior to their construction.
The new eco-homes in Totterdown are among the top 1 percent for energy efficiency in the country, using the latest solar technology and an air source heat pump.
The design itself traps heat with the roof structure creating an effective thermal envelope.
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All the timber used for construction comes from sustainable sources and even the taps and showers are designed to minimise water consumption.
Although six of the three-bedroom townhouses have garages, they are all wired up, ready for electric charging points to be installed.
New home-owners Richard and Melissa Cole who have recently moved into their new house at Viewpoint said, “Not only have we invested in a house that generates minimal environmental impact thanks to its combined green technologies, but we're also on the doorstep of a creative area steeped in history, rich in community, that also happens to be within walking distance of Bristol city centre. We're thoroughly enjoying living in a space that, by design, is modern living at its best.”
Fully sold off plan, the strong demand for the houses at ViewPoint@Totterdown demonstrates that Bristol home buyers are keen to embrace the efficiencies that eco-homes bring, said the Bristol home-builder:
“With COP 26 sending out strong messages of how we all need to act now to reduce carbon emissions, I’m pleased that at Autograph Homes we’re already building homes that are fuel-efficient to heat.
"We’re using a range of innovative technologies, such as air source heat pumps, abandoning traditional gas boilers,” explains Simon Taylor, Managing Director at Autograph Homes.
“Around a fifth of carbon emissions in the UK come from household energy usage, so addressing the efficiency of our new homes has been a priority for us,” concludes Simon.
The South Gloucestershire based independent builders who specialise in sustainable design are also working in collaboration with Bristol City Council to provide 32 affordable homes in Old Market which also use air source heat pump technology.
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