Even though a third of us have said they would like to make their home more energy efficient, a fifth didn’t know what changes they could implement to improve their EPC rating, according to research from Mortgage Advice Bureau. Deputy CEO of Mortgage Advice Bureau, Ben Thompson, says a national campaign is needed to hit the Government’s 2025 target for landlords to have rental properties at a minimum band C EPC rating, with the target set at 2035 for all other properties.
“It’s safe to say we all know the pain that inefficient homes are having on our bank accounts, but it is also having an impact on the climate. Retrofitting is the best way to combat the UK’s leaky homes. Wall, floor and loft insulation are some of the best ways to improve efficiency, but these can be costly. There are, however, a number of ways people can improve their homes gradually over time for very little cost, such as switching to more efficient LED bulbs to reduce electricity consumption, or using things like draft excluders under external doors.”
Improving your EPC rating can also increase the value of your home, as better ratings are predicted to be a key feature for movers in 2023. A fifth of Brits (19%) say they couldn’t consider a house with an EPC of below grade C, and 46% of potential buyers would rather have good insulation over a bigger garden (29%).
Ben Thompson shares his top retrofitting tips:
Wrap your home
One way you can improve your property’s energy efficiency this year is by installing retrofit wall, floor, and roof insulation. This involves the use of insulating materials to increase the airtightness of a space, subsequently slowing the transfer of heat. By helping to keep the heat within your home, retrofit insulation better protects those inside from outside icy breezes, reducing the need for you to turn up the thermostat. We would recommend that you have your property surveyed first by a qualified surveyor, discuss the options available to you, and have any work installed by a licensed professional.
Tackle draught
We’ve all heard someone at some point ask for a door to be closed because of a draught. Unfortunately, it’s not always that simple, as draughts often come into our house through tiny gaps. Nevertheless, there are some cheap and easy steps you can take to better draught-proof your home. Fabric draught excluders, available at many high street home stores, can help stop cold air from creeping through gaps at the bottom of interior doors, or you could consider closing the doors on rooms not in use to keep the cold air from creeping through. Small, simple measures like these to tackle cold draughts can collectively have a significant impact.
Swap your appliances
Finally, an obvious but often overlooked way to retrofit your property is by replacing appliances with energy efficient alternatives. For instance, LED lightbulbs can further reduce your home’s energy usage and efficiency. While it might not be cost-effective to replace all the technology and appliances in the home, when the time comes to replace things (such as a washing machine), do your market research first and look for the product with the highest energy efficiency rating.
Smart plugs are also a trendy new gadget that you can use to switch off connected appliances through your phone and cost as little as £20.
If you’re interested in retrofitting your home this year, make sure to discuss and plan the changes you wish to make to your home in detail beforehand with a qualified professional. For those who are concerned by the upfront cost, you can use a calculator to see how much upgrading your EPC could increase the value of your home by.
