If you are planning to buy a home or have already bought one, you would have probably made a Must-have list. It might have a garden, a garage, or an outdoor kitchen as key preferences, but now another feature is frequently being added to that list – energy efficiency.
With surging energy bills and the government moving forward with its zero net strategies, motivating householders to shift to low carbon alternatives before 2035 as part of its strategy to cut the UK’s dependence on fossil fuel for its energy requirements. Our estate agents in London Bridge can assist you in finding homes with the best EPC ratings.
Why the Demand for energy efficiency
Energy efficiency has been a crucial point of discussion in recent times. Why have the demands for energy-efficient homes in the UK risen and what is being done to facilitate this demand and supply chain? Let us examine this whole scenario in brief.
Energy costs
The UK Energy Research Centre has given the data that there has been a consistent increase in energy bills by 26% since the year 2010. The cost of gas increased by 65% and that of electricity increased by 129% respectively in 2022. This has put a considerable burden on household expenditures. The homeowners as a result are trying to limit their energy expending and reduce their energy bills.
Sustainable living
With the government playing a pivotal role in expanding the efficient energy demands to lower the carbon footprints of the country, the new constructed homes are using greener and cleaner energy sources to have the highest EPC rating and low energy costs for a sustainable living standard. With initiatives such as Green Home Grants and ECO (Energy Company Obligation), the government is promoting and funding efficient energy measures to be installed in homes by homeowners. The former launched in 2020 provides up to 5,000 pounds as vouchers for energy upgrades such as insulation, double glazing & heat pumps.
What does an energy-efficient home entail?
The energy performance certificate (EPC) rates the energy efficiency of homes from A to G. ‘A’ being the optimal best in energy compliance. More than 67% of homes in the UK have an EPC rating of D, which is even less than half of the EPC ratings.
A highly-rated energy-compliant home will have:
Insulations
According to the Energy Saving Trust, households can save up to 1000 pounds every year in savings by making their homes efficient energy compliant which will reduce their rising energy bills.
The foremost way to increase energy efficiency is to have good insulation in your home. By insulating your cavity walls, floors, roofs, and loft your house will have sufficient heat and lower energy bills, as it would require less energy to keep the heat source trapped inside
Installing triple-glazed or double-glazed windows is another way to keep your house warm and well-insulated. Condensing boilers are smart heating systems which will significantly lower your energy usage.
Renewable energy sources
A sustainable setup for making your home not only efficient in energy but also smart is by using solar panels and heat pumps. Solar panels will generate electricity directly from the sun’s energy and heat water and provide electricity whereas the heat pumps can use the ground source heat to keep your home warm. These energy sources not only lower your energy consumption and your bills but also dilute our dependence on fossil fuels, which is not only causing climate change but is adding to the exorbitant costs to the government exchequer.
Lessons for the Future
The government is proactively promoting energy efficiency and also encouraging people to become smart in energy reliance. However, more steps need to be taken by the government to motivate homeowners to invest in energy-efficient ways- Like reducing stamp duty for energy-efficiency homes, creating a support base for old homes, and more funds for improvements in energy efficiency.
As the number increases, of people wanting to live in high-rated EPC homes, green and clean energy-generating sources installed in homes and proper insulation should be mandatory for property sellers.
