Low Energy Home Design: sustainable homes that cost less to run

Think about sustainable homes, and most people picture solar panels on the roof or high-tech heating systems. 

But the real savings - both financially and environmentally - are determined by how well a home is designed and built to perform.

At Salmon Planning + Architecture, we specialise in low energy new build homes. 

We help self-builders and private clients create comfortable, future-proof homes with dramatically lower energy bills.

Better performance = lower energy bills.

What Is a Low Energy Home?

A low energy home is designed to use far less power for heating, hot water and everyday living - without sacrificing comfort.

Key features include:

• Excellent insulation throughout the building fabric

• Airtight construction to prevent heat loss and draughts

• High-performance windows and doors with carefully controlled ventilation

• Smart layout and orientation to make the most of natural light and warmth

When all these elements work together, your home simply needs much less energy to remain comfortable.

The Building Fabric (It’s Where the Biggest Savings Happen)

One of the most important principles of sustainable architecture is 'fabric first' design.

Rather than relying on technology to fix inefficiencies, we focus on creating a highly insulated, airtight structure from the outset.

This means:

• Warmer homes in winter

• Cooler spaces in summer

• Far lower heating consumption all year round
  

In many cases, a well-designed low energy home can use up to 70% less heating energy than a standard new build.

That’s a saving you'll feel every month.

Passive Design: Using the Sun and Layout to Your Advantage

Good energy performance isn’t just about insulation - it’s also about smart design.

We carefully consider:

• Building orientation for solar gain

• Window sizes and placement

• Natural daylighting

• Shading for summer comfort

  
  

By working with the site and the climate, we aim to make your home naturally stay warmer in winter and avoid overheating in summer - reducing reliance on heating and cooling systems.

Efficient Heating Systems That Work with the Building

Once energy demand is low, modern efficient systems become incredibly effective.

We often incorporate:

• Air source heat pumps

• Underfloor heating for low-temperature comfort

• Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR)

• Renewable technologies where suitable

  
  

You will see that because the home performs so well, these systems are cheaper to run and deliver excellent comfort levels.

Lower Energy Bills for Years to Come

For self-builders and private clients, one of the biggest advantages of a high-performance home is long-term savings.

Benefits include:

✅ Much lower heating and electricity costs ✅ Protection against rising energy prices ✅ Comfortable temperatures all year-round ✅ Improved air quality ✅ Reduced carbon footprint

Many of our clients are amazed at how little it costs to heat their new homes - even during winter.

Sustainable Homes Designed

Every site is different. Whilst we are based in the South West where the climate, landscape and planning context need careful consideration we will advise you wherever you are in the UK. We have clients across Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Bristol and Bath.

We design low energy homes that:

• Respond to coastal and rural conditions

• Use locally appropriate materials

• Perform exceptionally well in all UK weathers

Sustainability isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution - it’s about thoughtful, site-specific design.

Better Performance Means Better Living

A well-designed low energy home isn’t just cheaper to run - it’s simply a nicer place to live with:

• Fewer draughts

• Even temperatures

• Bright, comfortable spaces

  
  

And the peace of mind that comes from knowing your home is built for the future.

Thinking About a Low Energy Self-Build?

If you’re planning a new home and want to reduce energy bills while creating a beautiful, comfortable space, we’d love to help.

Drop me a line at matt@salmonplanning.co.uk and we can discuss further .

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