<p>The Home Builders Federation is calling upon government to work with lenders to create a “proper market” for green mortgages, as its latest research shows that new build home owners will continue to save an average of £135 a month under Ofgem’s new price cap.</p> <p>HBF’s updated <a href="http://www.hbf.co.uk/news/hbf-report-watt-save">Watt a Save July 2023</a> report reveals that further savings are made when comparing new build houses to their older counterparts, with average monthly running costs reportedly £183 cheaper. </p> <p>The report, based on an analysis of government Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) data for the year to March 2023, finds that 85% of new build properties achieve an A or B EPC – the highest performing levels – while only 4% of older homes attain this.</p> <p>According to the government’s data, new homes use 55% less energy and 60% less carbon than older properties. HBF said these findings demonstrated the advantages of modern building practices, technology and products, “and industry’s commitment to greener, environmentally conscious construction”. </p> <p>And new homes, the data shows, help reduce the UK’s carbon emissions by 500,000 tonnes a year.</p> <p>HBF said that while housebuilders continued to rapidly adjust to net zero targets, the government needed to work …