Energy-efficient home

Making home improvements to increase your homes energy efficiency but don't know where to start? Find out more about what type of energy saving improvements you can make to your home.

What home improvements can make your home more energy-efficient?

Insulation

This is one of the cheaper home improvements you can do. You could be wasting money by letting heat escape your home if your insulation is not up to scratch.

You could consider checking:

  • Loft / roof spaces
  • Cavity wall
  • Hot water pipes
  • Window and door seals to prevent droughts

If in any doubt, seek advice from your local tradesperson to help you understand what your options are.

Solar panels

While this isn't a cheap option, having solar panels installed will help reduce your electricity costs.

By generating and using your own electricity, your home will be less reliant on energy from the grid.

There are lots to consider such as:

  • Where to put the panels on your roof.
  • Battery storage, do you want to store extra energy you have generated and use it at a different time?
  • It is possible to register and sell your surplus energy back to the grid.

Heat pumps

Heat pumps work best in well-insulated homes, so it’s best to check this out before you start thinking about getting a heat pump.

Most heat pumps use radiators to heat your home, just like boilers do. Sometimes, your existing radiators might need replacing to make sure a heat pump works efficiently. Heat pumps usually work well with existing underfloor heating too.

If you are already generating electricity with solar, then this option might make your home more self-sufficient and save you money.

Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)

An EPC tells you how efficient your home is using a rating of A-G, with A being the most efficient and G being the least. This certificate is valid for 10 years.

 

You can get an EPC from an accredited energy assessor who visits the property to carry out an inspection. There isn’t a set price for an Energy Performance Certificate. The cost will vary by assessor and property size. As a guide, you can expect to pay between £60 and £120.

 

The report estimates the current cost for energy bills and gives you hints and tips on how to improve the ratings.
 

Source: gov.uk/energy-performance-certificates

Energy performance certificate

Check if you have one

You can apply for a home improvement loan if:
 

  • You’re aged 18 or over.
  • You’re a UK resident (excluding the Channel Islands and Isle of Man).
  • You’re not in full-time education.
  • You’re in paid employment or have a regular income.
     
  • You’ve not been declined for credit in the last month.
  • You don’t have a history of bad credit.
  • You are not applying for any of these reasonsLoans will not be provided for speculative purchases (gambling, investments and share purchases), any illegal purposes, business related purposes, purchase/lease of land or property, either full or part purchase (including deposit), timeshares/holiday clubs..
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