Environmental concerns are at the top of most people’s agendas these days, and though very few of us can do anything about cement plants in the Far East or illegal logging in the rain forests, conservation – like charity - can begin at home. Quite literally.

In the western world we use more than our share of energy, and generating that energy has a considerable cost. One area in which we can make a real difference is by limiting heat loss from our homes and therefore using less power, which in turn reduce harmful carbon dioxide emissions. As that saves us money at the same time it’s nothing but a good thing.

We are all responsible for making our own houses more energy efficient, but when it comes to newly built homes the government has now tightened up the rules by introducing standards which are as high as almost anywhere else in the world.

As James Lawrie of property specialists Strutt & parker explains, ‘The government can only really cajole so far as existing properties are concerned. Obviously they can’t demand that we all fit double glazing. Also many modern energy saving techniques wouldn’t be appropriate for older houses. When it comes to new buildings and extensions to existing homes though, up to date technology can be built into the fabric, and can really make a difference. A well insulated house with an energy efficient heating system can cut heating bills by a considerable percentage, and is good for the environment.

‘The government’s aim is to reduce energy waste by 40%, which is certainly an ambitious target. For the first time a building will be regarded as a complete entity when its efficiency is being computed, so that – to take a simple case – rooms with larger windows will need more floor, ceiling and wall insulation to compensate for the extra heat loss through the glass.’

The government says that £1 in every £3 spent on heating in Britain's 10.3 million homes is lost through poor insulation and, prompted by the government, 16 local authorities have announced rebates of £100 for home-owners who improve the energy efficiency of their homes. This scheme will be extended if it proves effective.

Whitehall is also encouraging new technology in several areas. These include triple glazing for windows, central heating systems which are both ‘wet’ and ‘dry’ – which means they can powered by either hot water or electricity, and ever more efficient and less wasteful boilers.

These will now have to meet a minimum specified level of efficiency, based on the government's official test results. The other factor is of course insulation, not just in the loft, but for all external walls as well as floors and ceilings. Cavity walls must be filled with insulation, and solid new homes. The government rates the energy efficiency of a building by its SAP rating, which runs from 1 to 10, and measures heat loss from the building.

James adds, ‘Our understanding of how to conserve heat within a home has come on enormously in recent years, as has our appreciation of why we should do so.

‘It must be said though that some very useful technology in the field is still too expensive to be cost efficient. Solar panels and the infrastructure needed to feed excess power back into the National Grid cost a lot of money, and would only be a worthwhile investment if you were planning to stay in your house for a long time.

‘Home-owners should also be aware that these environmental factors are becoming more and more important when it comes to selling your home. Thanks to television self-build programmes there is a greater awareness of the issues, and potential buyers will be asking the questions in future. In the way that good quality double glazing already ticks a box for buyers, so will a worthwhile level of insulation and an impressively high SAP rating.’

Overall, these new standards are, in Strutt & Parker’s opinion, a good thing. Countries such as Canada and the Scandinavian nations, which see very low temperatures in the winter, are understandably ahead of the field in this area, but these new regulations put Britain into a league only just below them.

There is just one disadvantage though, as James explains, ‘People living in homes that meet the new criteria will undoubtedly find them cheaper to heat, but the regulations do include extra costs for the builder. These may be passed on to the buyer, or the developer may make the properties slightly smaller so that selling prices remain the same. Whichever route they go down, home-buyers should recognise that there is a cost involved, though there will be savings later.’