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Building a new home is an exciting experience. It often brings with it new beginnings and the sheer happiness of living in your own safe space. It is a huge undertaking that involves a lot of planning, work, and perfect execution to finally get the house of your dreams. Each detail of the design and construction of the home must be well thought out, especially when it comes to the electrical features.
The electrical system in a new home build is an essential system responsible for powering the property. It plays an important role in not just day-to-day functionality and safety, but its proper installation and execution lay the groundwork for future upgrades, including smart home technologies and sustainable energy solutions.
Electrical planning is done early in the construction process to ensure every little detail is carefully considered and well thought out. This helps avoid any inconveniences down the road and prevents any unnecessary costs for fixes and adjustments.
Working with a professional electrician can help you plan for your current electrical needs as well as future-proof your new home build for new technologies and innovations. It may also be beneficial for you to have a good understanding of your electrical needs and the features you wish to have in your new home so that communication between you and the professional working on your home electrical installation becomes easier.
Here is a list of the top electrical features to include in your new home build:
Smart homes are on the rise in the country, with a significant increase in their adoption in the last 5 years. This “smart revolution” has taken the world by storm and has changed the way we live.
From smart lights that can be automated and remotely controlled, to smart thermostats that can learn your preferences and routines, and kitchen appliances that can be connected to the internet, smart home living is the way to go.
Behind all these smart devices is an important aspect of electrical installation that connects the smart network and enables the best performance: smart home wiring. While smart tech enthusiasts are converting their existing homes into smart homes, there are now several new builds with smart home wiring pre-installed.
By installing the right smart home infrastructure in your new build, you can create a home that can be controlled from an internet-connected central app, including the lighting, music, heating, security, and much more.
The optimal time to install smart home wiring is when the new home is under construction, as it makes it easier to install the wiring through the walls. Other than making the installation process easier, it also eliminates the need for expensive retrofits later on.
Although smart home wiring for new builds may seem a bit complicated, the process simply requires strategic planning and placement of Cat6 or fibre-optic Ethernet cables to key areas throughout the new build to power smart devices such as lighting controls, thermostats, security systems, and entertainment systems.
Lighting is one of the most essential elements in any home. It not only illuminates a space but also highlights the design features, enhances mood, and improves the overall living experience.
When working on a new home build, it is especially important to pay close attention to the lighting needs of the property and choose the right lights that can help achieve functionality, comfort, and energy efficiency. In doing so, lighting plans play a critical role in ensuring everything is installed according to the requirements set out during the initial assessment.
LED lights are one of the most popular lighting choices for modern homes due to their reliability, efficiency, and eco-friendliness. LED stands for Light Emitting Diode and is one of the most rapidly developing technologies in the lighting industry. LED lights use solid-state lighting technology, or SSL, that emits light when current passes through a solid piece of matter, which, in the case of a traditional LED, is a semiconductor.
For a good and all-encompassing LED lighting plan for your new home build, you need to keep a few very important things in consideration. They include the type of lighting (general lighting, functional lighting, and ambient/mood lighting), the different types of homes and their layout (flats and terraced houses, detached homes, and luxury homes), and the different rooms in a home and their lighting needs (bedroom, bathroom, living room, and kitchen).
Sockets and switches play a fundamental role in providing connection points to your devices and appliances and controlling the flow of electricity. Selecting the right types of sockets and switches and placing them strategically around your home can enhance its functionality, safety, and aesthetics.
Sockets are an important electrical feature that connect the electrical devices and appliances to the power supply. Without properly functioning sockets, the safety, efficiency, and performance of the electrical system could be severely compromised, which makes them an indispensable part of a new home build’s electrical system.
Some of the most common types of sockets for residential use include standard wall sockets designed to accommodate everyday appliances, USB sockets to allow users to charge devices such as mobile phones without a separate adapter, smart sockets that can be controlled remotely using smartphones and home automation systems such as Google Home and Alexa, and outside sockets that can withstand extreme weather and temperatures.
Switches are another very important feature to include in your new home build, as they control the flow of electricity to devices and appliances by turning them on or off. They are a big part of managing energy use and are an integral part of any home’s electrical infrastructure.
Some of the most common types of switches used in residential settings include toggle switches, which feature a lever for switching them on and off, rocker switches with a flat surface, and dimmer switches that allow users to adjust the brightness of the lights.
When installing sockets and switches, their placement is crucial. They must be placed at convenient locations and heights to accommodate their use and enhance safety and functionality. Sockets must be placed strategically to avoid the use of extension leads, which can pose a safety hazard and increase the risk of electrical overloads and tripping. In areas around the house, such as the kitchen and living room, sockets must be placed at multiple points for increased convenience and accessibility.
Switches must be placed keeping in mind easy access upon arrival so that the users can instantly turn on the lights without fumbling in the dark looking for the switchboard. Motion-sensor switches are also a great option for hands-free illumination. For seating and entertainment areas in the home, position the switches nearby for convenience. In the kitchen and dining area, place them near the countertops and kitchen appliances to ensure easy access while cooking and preparing food.
According to Part S of the Building Regulations, all new home builds with associated parking are required to have an EV charger installed on the property. The reason for this is the UK’s aim to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2035, and the increase in the number of electric vehicles as a result.
These new regulations are introduced to increase and speed up the switch to electric vehicles and provide greater control for EV owners. They also ensure that all EV charger installations are safe, reliable, and efficient.
There are several benefits of installing EV chargers in your home, making them 100% worth it when it comes to the associated costs. They offer convenience, are cheaper, and make EV users less dependent on public charging stations.
A wallbox charger, also called an electric vehicle wall charging unit, is installed either in your garage or outside your home, whichever is nearest to where your EV is parked. It is connected to the home’s main power supply and is available in different forms and powers.
You must always hire a certified and experienced professional to install the EV charger, as it will save you from future troubles and ensure the installation is safe and compliant with all the regulations. The installation process takes a few very important factors into consideration, such as the power of the charger (3kW, 7kW, or 22kW), type of cable (tethered or untethered), design of the charging point (wall-mounted or free-standing), and additional features such as solar panel compatibility.
With energy prices continuing to skyrocket each year and the growing pressure on all countries of the world to reduce their carbon emissions, turning to renewable energy sources such as solar panels offers a highly effective solution. Not only can solar energy help reduce your energy bills, but also reduce your reliance on the grid and help lower your carbon footprint.
Although solar panels aren’t mandated by law on new home builds, homeowners are attracted to this renewable energy form and are installing them in their homes to make their properties more sustainable. They are especially popular among homeowners looking to future-proof their properties and increase their energy independence.
When installing solar panels in your new home build, take the size of your property and your energy consumption into account, as both will have a direct impact on the size of the solar system setup. It is essential to have a structurally sound south-facing rooftop, sufficient roof space to accommodate the panels, and minimal shade from buildings or trees.
Battery storage systems, also known as battery energy storage systems (BESS), are an essential technology used in conjunction with solar panels to help overcome the inconsistencies of solar and wind power. They can store energy and are a key player in ensuring that homes with solar panels receive uninterrupted green energy, even at times when there is no sun.
Battery storage systems can also be used for storing electricity from the grid, such as during off-peak hours, to avail cheaper electricity that is more easily available. This stored energy can then be used later by property owners, such as during peak demand hours when the tariffs are the highest, resulting in significant cost savings.
In addition to this, new home builds can benefit from the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) – a scheme introduced by the UK Government that offers export tariffs for a variety of small-scale low-carbon energy generating technologies, including solar panels and wind turbines, as part of pursuing the target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
With the SEG, homeowners can get tariffs for renewable energy that they don’t use. The amount is dependent on your SEG licensee, and the rates are decided by the energy supplier. Generally, you can get between 1 to 30.31 p per kWh.
Security is of paramount importance for all types of new and existing properties. New home builds may be especially vulnerable to burglaries and break-ins, particularly during the construction process, as the home may still be unoccupied or only partially lived in, and the security systems and CCTV cameras may generally not be fully operational.
To minimise these risks, it is crucial to include the security systems and CCTV cameras in the planning of the new home build and integrate them into the construction process for seamless installation. This includes pre-wiring for alarm systems, sensors, CCTV cameras, and motion-sensor smart security lights, in addition to remote monitoring capabilities for added control and security.
Prewiring the security systems is more aesthetically pleasing as it becomes easier to hide the wires and cables. It also allows for better integration and future-proofing your home in terms of security. Keep in mind the number, location, and purpose of the security devices and systems you wish to add to your new home build.
Essential security systems to consider for your new home build include:
We have been providing electrical services to residential, commercial, and industrial properties for over 40 years and are specialists in all aspects of electrical installations, maintenance, and testing.
All our work is fully insured, and we work to meet the standards set by the NICEIC to make sure all your electrical installations meet the current regulations, and all the notifiable work is signed off by the local authorities.
If you have unplanned issues within your home or business, we can provide a call-out service to rectify and solve any problems, such as circuit tripping, loss of power, broken items that need repairing, or to check if you feel something is unsafe or a potential hazard.
Our team can generate a Visual Inspection Report (VIR) to identify anything visual that does not comply with the standards or looks unsafe, as well as a full Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) where we will identify and test each circuit to make sure they are not deteriorating and are safe for use within the current standards and regulations set by the BS 7671.
We can also provide PAT testing of appliances to make sure that any items such as kettles, computers, and microwaves are safe for use in the home and workplace.
Contact us here or call us at 0800 612 3001 to get in touch with our professional electricians for more information on the top electrical features to include in your new home build.
