NEW BUILDS & MAJOR RENOVATIONS

Build it right.
Avoid energy regrets for decades.

The decisions you make during design and construction lock in your home's energy performance, bills, comfort and carbon footprint for 50+ years. Our guidance and scoring system help you get it right the first time.

Get Your New-Build Score →Read the Methodology

Transparent • Data-driven • No vendor lock-in

Target World-Class Performance
Set clear, achievable targets for your build that align with our 0-100 scoring. Aim for 85+ to future-proof against rising energy prices and climate policy.
Avoid the Biggest Regrets
Most new builds still embed poor fabric performance or suboptimal systems. These mistakes cost thousands per year and are almost impossible to fix later.
Integrate with Real Scoring
Our open methodology lets you model design choices in real-time. See exactly how changing insulation, heat pump COP or PV array size affects your final score.

7 Critical Design Decisions

That determine whether your new home scores 60 or 95. Get these right and your score (and bills) will thank you.

DECISION 1
High (∼30% of score)

Thermal Envelope & Airtightness

+25–35 points potential
RECOMMENDATION

Target U-values ≤0.15 W/m²K walls/roof, airtightness <1.0 ACH50, eliminate thermal bridges. Consider Passive House or equivalent.

COMMON REGRET

Choosing cheap insulation or skipping blower-door test locks in high heat loss forever.

DECISION 2
High (∼25% of score)

Heating & Cooling System

+20–30 points potential
RECOMMENDATION

Install air/ground source heat pump from day one. Size correctly using heat loss calculation. Pair with underfloor or low-temp emitters.

COMMON REGRET

Installing gas boiler "just in case" or oversizing systems wastes money and carbon.

DECISION 3
Medium (∼15% of score)

Ventilation Strategy

+10–18 points potential
RECOMMENDATION

Whole-house MVHR with ≥85% efficiency. Design for excellent air quality without energy penalty.

COMMON REGRET

Relying on trickle vents or poor MVHR specification leads to stuffy homes or high running costs.

DECISION 4
Medium-High (∼20% of score)

Solar PV, Battery & Orientation

+15–28 points potential
RECOMMENDATION

Optimize south-facing roof for PV (or east-west for self-consumption). Plan battery storage and future V2G/EV integration. Use our score tool to model yield.

COMMON REGRET

Poor roof design that prevents future solar or battery install.

DECISION 5
Medium (∼10% of score)

Hot Water & Plumbing

+8–12 points potential
RECOMMENDATION

Heat-pump water heater or solar thermal + insulated pipe runs. Consider drain-water heat recovery.

COMMON REGRET

Standard electric immersion or uninsulated pipes.

Your New-Build Checklist

Calculate accurate heat loss before specifying any plant

Model your home in our Score tool at every design stage

Prioritise fabric-first (envelope before systems)

Design for flexibility — future-proof for batteries, EV chargers, VPP

Get independent energy consultant or use our methodology as brief for your architect

Plan for monitoring from day one (sensors, dashboard integration)

How Scoring Integrates

Our methodology translates your architect's drawings and specifications directly into a 0-100 Evolving Home Score.

  • → Early concept: test different insulation specs
  • → Planning stage: compare heat pump vs other options
  • → Final spec: validate against real performance benchmarks
Model Your Design Now

Takes 60 seconds • Free • No sign-up required for basic modelling

Ready to build a high-scoring home?

Use the score tool, share your plans with us, or read the full open methodology behind the scoring engine.

Launch Score CalculatorExplore Full Methodology

Part of Evolving Home's transparent approach to home energy performance.
Built for self-builders, architects, and forward-thinking developers.