Are Energy-Efficient Features in New Build Homes Standard or Optional?

When you’re house hunting, especially in the market for a brand-new home, one of the biggest selling points is energy efficiency. After all, no one wants sky-high energy bills, cold drafts or homes that struggle to maintain a comfortable temperature.

But here’s the tricky part: not every energy-efficient feature you see is automatically included in a new build. Some are required by law, while others are optional extras, often presented as upgrades or premium features. Understanding the difference can save you money, disappointment and a lot of guesswork.

In this article, we’ll break down what you can generally expect as standard in new build homes. What counts as optional and why regulations have been changing in recent years to make energy efficiency more of a baseline than a bonus.

The Basics: Why Energy Efficiency Matters

Before diving into the specifics of standard versus optional features, it’s important to understand why energy efficiency is such a big deal for modern homes. The benefits are clear:

• Lower energy bills: Homes that retain heat effectively and use efficient heating systems cost less to run.
• Comfort: Well-insulated walls, floors, and roofs help maintain a consistent indoor temperature.
• Environmental impact: Energy-efficient homes reduce carbon emissions, helping homeowners contribute to sustainability goals.
• Future resale value: Buyers are increasingly conscious of energy performance, so efficient homes often sell faster and at higher prices.

With climate change and energy costs becoming pressing concerns, governments around the world have introduced stricter regulations for new build homes. In the UK, for example, new legislation like the Future Homes Standard is transforming what’s considered standard in a newly built property.

Standard Energy-Efficient Features: What Comes Included

Building Regulations and Part L

If you’re buying a new home, you can expect certain energy-efficient measures to be included by default. In the UK, these are governed by Building Regulations, specifically Part L, which deals with energy efficiency and carbon emissions.

Part L sets minimum standards for:

• Insulation: Walls, floors, and roofs must meet specific thermal resistance values. This prevents heat from escaping in winter and keeps interiors cooler in summer.
• Airtightness: Modern homes must minimise drafts and air leakage. This is tested during construction to ensure compliance.
• Windows and glazing: Windows must meet minimum thermal performance standards, measured in U-values.
• Heating systems: The efficiency of boilers and heating installations is regulated to reduce energy consumption.

In short, these measures ensure that even the most basic new build is far more energy-efficient than many older homes.

The Future Homes Standard

Starting in 2025, the Future Homes Standard has being rolled out in England. The goal is to make new homes low-carbon ready, meaning they use significantly less energy and emit far less carbon than homes built even a few years ago.

Some of the measures that will become standard include:

• Low-carbon heating systems: Heat pumps are likely to replace conventional gas boilers in many cases.
• Enhanced insulation and airtightness: Homes will be built to even stricter standards to minimise heat loss.
• Solar panels: From 2027, most new homes will include solar panels unless there are specific exceptions like shading or roof orientation.

This is a major shift, as these features used to be considered upgrades or optional extras. Soon, they will simply be part of what it means to buy a new build.

New build homes now come with basic energy-efficient features as standard. These meet current building regulations. True future-proofing often needs optional upgrades. Features like advanced ventilation, smart energy systems or extra insulation go beyond the minimum. Knowing what’s standard and what costs extra helps buyers make smart choices. It ensures comfort, savings and sustainability over the long term.

Other Standard Features

Even today, some energy-efficient measures are non-negotiable. For example:

• Efficient lighting: Many new homes come with LED lighting installed as standard.
• Efficient hot water systems: Modern water heaters are built to use less energy while still delivering consistent performance.
• Basic ventilation requirements: While mechanical systems may be optional, every home must meet minimum ventilation standards to ensure good air quality without wasting heat.

Optional Energy-Efficient Features: What You Might Have to Pay Extra For

While regulations cover the basics, many features that homeowners associate with high efficiency are still optional. Builders may offer these as upgrades or as part of premium packages.

Triple Glazing

While Part L sets minimum requirements for windows, it doesn’t always require triple glazing. Builders often include double glazing that meets the thermal performance target. Triple glazing is generally optional and can significantly improve insulation and noise reduction, but it comes at a higher cost.

Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR)

MVHR systems circulate fresh air while recovering heat from the outgoing air, helping maintain energy efficiency without sacrificing ventilation. While airtightness standards are mandatory, MVHR is often an optional upgrade. Many premium developments now offer it as standard, but in lower-spec homes, it remains an add-on.

Smart Home Energy Systems

Modern energy management systems. Which monitor usage, automate heating and integrate with renewable technologies are usually optional. While they can make your home more efficient and convenient, they aren’t legally required.

Battery Storage

Solar panels are moving toward being standard, but home battery storage remains optional. Batteries allow homeowners to store excess solar energy for use at night or during peak hours, further reducing energy costs and reliance on the grid.

Premium Heat Pumps

While low-carbon heating may become standard, higher-efficiency heat pumps or hybrid systems may be optional. They offer better performance and lower running costs but come at a premium price.

Electric Vehicle Chargers

Many new developments now include provisions for EV chargers, especially in parking areas. Some areas may even mandate them for new homes, but often they are considered optional or part of a higher-spec package.

Why Some Features Are Optional

Even with regulations tightening, some features remain optional for several reasons:

• 1. Cost: Not every homeowner wants to pay for the most expensive energy-saving features upfront. Developers provide a basic compliant home and allow upgrades for those willing to pay.
• 2. Design flexibility: Some energy-efficient technologies require specific design considerations, such as roof orientation for solar panels or space for MVHR systems. Developers can’t always include these universally.
• 3. Market differentiation: Optional features allow developers to market “premium” homes with enhanced energy efficiency, helping them stand out in a crowded market.

What This Means for Homebuyers

Understanding what’s standard and what’s optional can help you make informed decisions:

• Check the specification sheet: Ask your developer what comes standard and what’s an upgrade. Many features, like high-performance windows or solar panels, may vary by development.
• Consider long-term savings: Optional features like triple glazing, MVHR, or battery storage may cost more upfront but can save you money in energy bills over time.
• Think about future-proofing: As energy costs rise and carbon regulations tighten, homes with enhanced energy efficiency are likely to hold their value better.

Bottom Line

So, are energy-efficient features in new build homes standard or optional? The answer is: it depends on the feature.

• Standard: Insulation, airtightness, minimum glazing performance, basic ventilation, and increasingly low-carbon heating and solar panels.
• Optional: Triple glazing, MVHR, smart energy systems, battery storage, premium heat pumps, and other advanced energy-saving features.

As a homebuyer, it’s important to understand both what you’re getting automatically and what you might want to add for extra comfort, efficiency and long-term savings.