The government has updated its dataset on the energy-efficiency characteristics of new dwellings in England. The release page, updated on 4 November 2026, links to tables covering July to September 2026.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government says the estimates cover new dwellings and those built to the Part L 2021 Standard, with breakdowns by property type, heating system and characteristics such as heat pumps and solar photovoltaic panels. The data come from Energy Performance Certificates lodged on the Energy Performance of Buildings Register.
The series is labelled Official Statistics in Development. The department says it may refine the statistics in response to feedback. This article describes the release and its scope; it does not report adoption percentages or totals from the spreadsheet, or claim that every new home has a particular technology.
Use national data to improve your questions
For a buyer, a dataset is most helpful when it prompts a more specific conversation about the home being considered. Ask the developer which heating and hot-water systems are installed, what documentation will be handed over and how the controls are intended to be used. A national trend cannot answer those questions for a particular plot.
If solar panels form part of the specification, request an explanation of the ownership and operating arrangements. If a heat pump is included, ask how the handover will cover controls, servicing and the practical operation of the system. Keep the answers with the other purchase documents.
Separate specification from actual bills
An energy certificate and a developer’s specification describe different aspects of the evidence available at purchase. Ask an adviser to explain the assumptions behind any running-cost illustration. Do not turn a modelled comparison into a promise of a particular household’s bills, because actual use and circumstances need separate consideration.
A useful comparison sheet can record the certificate details, equipment, warranties, maintenance information and unresolved questions for each property. That is more informative than comparing only the presence of a particular technology.
Check scope before quoting a statistic
For property professionals using the release in marketing or commentary, identify the period, geography and measure being discussed. Keep the development status visible and consult the table notes before drawing a conclusion. A count of EPC lodgements should not casually be relabelled as a count of sales or households.
The latest update offers another source of evidence about new-home energy characteristics. Buyers should combine that context with the documents and advice relevant to the actual home.
Source: MHCLG, Energy efficiency characteristics of new dwellings, updated 4 November 2026.