Smarter energy use for a more affordable home
This article was originally published as part of our customer newsletter.
With emissions from residential buildings accounting for around one fifth of the UK’s total carbon emissions,[1] improving the energy efficiency of homes across the nation is critical for the UK to achieve its net zero target by 2050.
A key aspect of decarbonising the nation’s housing stock is retrofitting homes to improve their energy efficiency. This is why the government is proposing to change minimum energy efficiency standards to require all privately rented homes to reach a minimum Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of C by 2030.
Aside from the positive impact on the environment, lowering household energy consumption alleviates pressure on pockets, which is particularly important as we head into the winter months, where energy bills are typically higher.
To help guide our customers, this article includes tips on how to reduce energy consumption and improve the energy efficiency of their homes.
How to get started
Knowing where to begin when improving the energy efficiency of your home can be daunting, but the following tips can act as a good starting point:
- Check your Energy Performance Certificate (EPC): Review your EPC, as this contains recommendations that are specific to your home. These will be based on details about your property, making it a good starting point when considering what changes you could make. The EPC will also show what rating you can expect after completing the recommended changes. Visit the EPC register to find your home’s EPC.
- If your home doesn’t have an up-to-date EPC, you can arrange one or use the government’s online service for tailored energy efficiency advice instead.
- Choose the energy efficiency measures that work for your home and budget: The right energy efficiency measures depend on your budget and property type. Some of the main ways to improve energy efficiency are:
- Double or triple glazed windows – The Energy Saving Trust estimates that upgrading from single glazing to A-rated double glazing can save households around £140 on energy bills a year. If you have single glazed windows, discover your replacement options here.
- Energy efficient lighting – Upgrading to LED bulbs can be the cheapest and easiest way to enhance your home’s energy efficiency. Read more about the different types of lighting and bulbs here.
- Heating controls – Installing heating controls such as a programmer, room thermostat and thermostatic radiator valve allows you control the temperatures in different rooms independently. This means you’ll heat only spaces you’re using, avoiding wasting energy while potentially improving your EPC rating. Find out about heating controls here.
- Heating upgrade – Older boilers and heating systems are typically less energy efficient than more recent models. If yours is reaching the end of its life, upgrading to an A-rated system could reduce the energy it uses to heat your home. Since heating and hot water account for over half of an average household’s energy bills, this upgrade could go a long way in reducing your bills. Read more about what to consider when replacing your heating system here.
- Insulation – Insulating your walls, floor or roof minimises heat loss and reduces the amount of energy required to heat your home. Learn more about the different types of insulation here.
- Renewable and low carbon technologies – If your budget allows, you could install solar panels or a heat pump (air source or ground source) to achieve the greatest reduction in your home’s carbon emissions. Read more about solar panels and heat pumps to see if they’re right for your home.
- Check for available grant funding: Find out if you’re eligible for government funding through these schemes:
- Boiler Upgrade Scheme – If you’re replacing your fossil fuel heating system with a heat pump or biomass boiler, you may qualify for funding. Check your eligibility here.
- Warm Homes: Local Grant – If your home has an EPC rating of D or lower, you could be eligible for energy efficiency improvement funding through your local authority. Check the availability in your area and eligibility requirements here.
- Energy Company Obligation 4 (ECO4)
– Eligibility requirements vary by location, but if your home has an EPC rating of E or lower and someone living in your household receives benefits, you may qualify for energy efficiency upgrades. Check your eligibility here.
- Find an installer you can trust: Get help finding an installer you can trust by searching the TrustMark website. Or, for renewable energy installations or a heat pump, go to the MCS website for certified installers.
- Switch to one of our green home finance products when you refinance: If you improve your home’s EPC rating to A or B, you could secure a lower rental rate by switching to one of our green home finance products when refinancing. These products are an important part of our commitment as a Bank to reaching net zero by 2050. As part of this, we work with Forest Carbon to offset the average UK home’s emissions for the product’s fixed term.
Reducing your energy consumption
Whether you’re planning to invest in making changes to your home or not, there are plenty of things you can do to reduce your energy consumption. In fact, it’s estimated that the average household could save over £350 a year just by making simple changes, as shown below.
- Switching appliances off completely instead of leaving them on standby.
- Adding draught proofing strips and/or draught excluders to your windows and doors.
- Turning off lights when not required.
- Only washing your clothes when needed and on colder cycles.
- Air drying clothes with the window open instead of using the tumble dryer.
- Taking showers instead of baths or taking shorter showers.
- Not overfilling the kettle – only boil the amount of water you need.
- Only running the dishwasher when it is full.
- Bleeding radiators to help them heat up more efficiently.
- Turning the thermostat down by one degree and setting timers to only come on when needed.