Making your home more energy-efficient

Improving your homes energy efficiency to be more sustainable but don't know where to start? Find out more about what might work for you.

Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)

Checking your homes EPC is a great way to start to see what your current rating is and checking recommended improvements to increase this.

How does it work?

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 also gives you ideas on how to improve the ratings. This might help you decide what changes you want to make when planning your home improvements.

Source: gov.uk/energy-performance-certificates

How to check

  • If you’re in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, use the government’s service to check if you have an existing EPC.
  • If you’re in Scotland, there’s a different way to check for energy certificates.
Energy performance certificate

Popular upgrades

Add more Insulation

This is one of the most cost-effective home improvements you can do. If your home doesn’t have enough insulation, it could mean you're wasting heat and money by letting it escape through your roof or walls.

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.

Generate electricity with solar

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

By using the electricity generated, it means your homes carbon footprint could reduce.

There are lots to consider such as:

  • Positioning of your roof to maximise how much you can generate.
  • Battery storage, do you want to store extra energy you have generated and use it at a different time?
  • You might be able to register to sell your surplus energy back to the grid.

Switch to a Heat Pump

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 can use existing radiators already fitted to your home. Although sometimes, they might be too small for a heat pump to work efficiently and will need replacing, but this isn’t always the case.

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

Ready to apply for a home improvement loan?

Ready to apply for a home improvement loan?

You can apply online and get a decision within minutes. Find out how much you could potentially borrow using our Loan calculator. While the calculator will give an indication of monthly payments and APR, you can find out your personalised rate by logging in to Internet Banking.

Login for a quote Login for a quote

Our most popular loans