How to increase the energy efficiency of your house

16th January 2023

An energy-efficient home means cheaper energy bills; learn where to start with low-energy lightbulbs and home energy assessments to increase the energy efficiency of your home. 

Many homes in the UK can be difficult to heat, which results in high energy costs and a significant carbon imprint. Our homes are among the oldest and least well-insulated in all of Europe. 

Over half of the properties currently in EPC bands D-G might very well achieve band C by 2025, according to the government, which is urging homeowners to do so. But improving your rental home’s efficiency isn’t just about doing what the law says or protecting the environment; it also saves you and your tenants money on your energy costs right now. Even with the government’s energy assistance, this winter’s expenses will be greater than ever before, therefore there has never been a better opportunity to improve your energy efficiency.

Find your EPC

On the government’s EPC Register for homes in Wales England, or Northern Ireland, as well as on the Scottish EPC Register managed by the Energy Saving Trust, you can locate any current or expired EPC for a residence. It might have expired because EPCs only last for ten years. The EPC evaluation may not be correct if you have made alterations to your home since it was completed.

Depending on the size and location of your home, you may obtain an updated EPC for your house for between £60 and £120. Look for appraisers who provide a home energy audit if you want a more thorough report. Although more expensive, it may also include thermal imaging, individualised guidance, and a detailed strategy to assist you in improving your property.

Here are some top tips to help get your property more energy efficient

Add wall insulation

Over a third of the heat in uninsulated homes is lost via the walls. In contrast to a detached home, which has more external walls and loses heat through them all, a mid-terraced home or apartment has fewer external walls and loses heat more slowly.

Verify the kind of walls you have. You must be aware of the construction of your walls because different types of walls require different insulation techniques. You may get a sense of the sort of wall construction by looking at how old your house is.

Add floor insulation

A home’s ground floor can lose up to 15% of its warmth, so if at all feasible, you must insulate it. Insulation isn’t typically required for upper floors, but it can be useful if you have a room over an unheated area, such a garage.

Verify the kind of floors you have. To choose the appropriate form of insulation, just as with walls, you must be aware of the type of floors you have.

Floorboards that are suspended above a void rest on joists. Rigid boards, mineral wool, or spray foam insulation can be used to insulate them. Typically, solid floors are made of stone or concrete. On top, a layer of hard insulation may be placed.

Add roof or attic insulation

One of the easiest and economical ways to increase your home’s energy efficiency is to insulate the attic or roof. Although most homes can profit from at least 270mm of loft insulation, larger detached houses and bungalows waste a significant amount of heat through the roof.

The majority of roofs can be insulated, although there are many techniques. Pitched rooftops can be insulated as a warm roof at the rafter level or as a cold roof at the joist level, often known as loft insulation. There are rolls of insulation, rigid boards, and spray foam treatments available. Insulation options for flat roofs include warm deck, cold deck, and inverted roof.

Electricity-saving lighting

Lighting is considered in the EPC assessment even though it may appear like a little portion of your home’s energy use. Replace old light bulbs with energy-efficient LEDs to raise your EPC rating.

Although LED lights cost more to purchase, they have a lifespan of up to fifteen times longer and use about 90% less energy.

In the process of renting a property? Explore more information on EPC certificates and the new legislations here. We assist our landlords in getting the most out of their rental homes, whether it is by locating the ideal renters, minimising tenancy voids, or recommending contractors to carry out maintenance and increase your home’s energy efficiency.

• Share: