How can I improve my home’s EPC Energy Rating?

Last time we explained the EPC ratings on your home report.  Many homeowners worry about this score as often there is very little you can do to improve it.  For instance, if your house is a mid-terrace it will get a higher score than a detached house for heat loss – but that’s not something you’ll be able to change!

To help you understand what affects your EPC rating, here are the factors generally considered to be the most important influencers on your score:

1. The age of the property
   Obviously, not something you can change! But generally, the newer the property, the more energy efficient it will be.  This may not always be the case, and there are still plenty of things that buyers and sellers can do to older properties to make them more energy efficient.
2. The walls
   Properties built before 1950 tend to have solid walls which are less efficient at keeping heat in than cavity walls, or cavity insulated walls.  The more exposed walls, the more heat loss a home will have
3. Heating
   Because gas is currently cheaper than other energy sources, and it creates fewer CO2 emissions, a gas heating system will have a better score than an electric heating system.  The type and quality of a property’s boiler will also have a big impact on its EPC score, as will the range and efficiency of the heating controls.
4. Insulation
   Insulation is one of the cheapest and most effective ways of making a property more energy efficient and improving its EPC score. It is recommended that a property has around 250mm of insulation.

No matter what age you are or what level of income you are on, there are lots of free tools and assistance out there for you to save energy and improve your home’s EPC.  Get in touch with the Energy Saving Trust to find out what help is available to you.