Green Features & EPC Ratings

Which Green Features Do Homes With High EPC Ratings Have?

In 2021, the cost of goods here in the UK started to rise, triggered not only by rising inflation but also by the more recent invasion of Ukraine.

This has left many UK residents in financial difficulty, having to cut back on their food shop, not being able to fill up their cars and even getting into difficulty with their rent, mortgage or utility bills.

Luckily, the government has stepped in to provide some help. Households now receive a discount on their energy bills, while those on benefits or living on low incomes can also expect to receive extra payments and help with council tax.

The problem is, many of us claim this simply isn’t enough. With this in mind, what can we do to keep bills to a minimum? Installing green, energy-efficient measures in our homes to save money on our energy bills is one viable option.

There are lots of measures to choose from, with the main ones being heat pumps, triple glazing, Passivehaus, underfloor heating and insulation.

Unsure which Measures are for You in Terms of Cost and Savings? Continue reading, and let us help you decide.

Heat Pumps

Heat pumps take heat from the air outside and transfer this to water, which then provides heating and hot water to the inside of your home. Heat passes through an exchanger into a heat pump which then warms up the water.

The installation cost can vary greatly depending on many different things. Systems typically cost between £7,000 and £13,000 depending on the size of your home and whether it’s an existing property or a new build.

Equally, the amount you save also depends on a couple of different things, like the system's design, how it operates, and the type of system it is replacing. To put this into perspective, you can save between £890 and £1,500 a year if you’re replacing old or new storage heaters, which is an impressive saving. Or if you’re replacing an old gas boiler, expect to save £395 a year.

Are there any circumstances when installing a heat pump isn’t worth it? Yes - If you already have a new gas or oil burner, you won’t save much at all. So, make sure to do your research before you decide.

Triple Glazing

Think double glazing with an extra pane of glass, and you’re not a million miles away!

So why choose triple glazing? Firstly, they reduce heat loss, which makes your home warmer and can lower energy bills. There are a few other benefits as well, like reducing noise and condensation and making your home more secure.

What about the cost? Considering it’s more secure and efficient than double glazing, it is more expensive. A 9-bed semi will set you back around £3,500, excluding installation, while for a 12-bedroom detached, it’ll cost around £4,750.

What is worth mentioning is that there is little difference in terms of energy efficiency between double and triple glazing. But if you experience cold spots or excessive noise in your property, it could be worth investing in.

Passivhaus

Passivhaus homes are highly energy efficient in their design, so they can maintain a nearly constant temperature. This is achieved by the insulation and ventilation included in their build. They don’t need a lot of heating or cooling as they use natural sources of energy like the sun to keep occupants warm.

So how are they different from normal homes? They’re better insulated, triple-glazed, airtight and usually feature a mechanical ventilation system and air source pump.

Building a Passivhaus home from scratch isn’t cheap. Expect a 150m2 property to cost in the region of £322,500. Another alternative is to retrofit an existing home to achieve the same things, which is a cheaper option. Just be aware that you won’t achieve the same efficiency levels as a new build.

So, is it worth it? In our opinion, yes. A Passivhaus home can save a whopping 90% from your energy bills!

Underfloor Heating

Underfloor heating works through a strong and flexible tube embedded under your floor, which then heats your room up. Before considering this type of heating, you’ll need to think about the current heating system you’re dealing with, plus the source of energy that operates it.

Once you’ve got this out the way, and you’ve perhaps decided that underfloor heating is a great option, you’ll enjoy its many benefits. It’s really efficient as it warms all the space under your floor, plus it uses lower temperatures than radiators and eliminates any annoying cold spots.

While it can be costly to install at around £50 per m2, it comes highly recommended as it keeps your energy bills low over time. In fact, it saves as much as 40% from your heating bills. Plus, if you’re keen to use a renewable energy source, you might be eligible for a financial incentive towards costs!

Insulation

It is probably possible to dedicate an entire article to all the different types of home insulation available, so we will just provide a quick overview here.

Out of all the areas of our home that lose energy through not being sufficiently insulated, our lofts are probably the worst culprits. So much so that if not adequately insulated, around one-quarter of heat can be lost through them.

The good news is that if your loft does need insulation, it’s quite cheap to do so, as long as you’re a reasonably competent DIYer! Simply head down to your local DIY store or builders merchant and buy some insulation on a roll, cut it down to size, and place it between the beams in your loft. If you’re not so confident at doing this, you could bring in a tradesperson, but expect to pay up to £350 a day for the privilege. Saying that, loft insulation pays for itself multiple times over its 40-year lifespan, so this is only a small price to pay!

Walls are another part of our homes where a lot of heat can be lost if not properly insulated. If you own a home constructed after 1920, you may be able to opt for cavity wall insulation, where a hole is drilled into the cavity and is then filled with spray foam. Internal wall insulation is another option for older properties without a cavity. Regardless of your choice, expect to save between £100 and £400 a year on your energy bills.