Over half of us are living in energy-guzzling homes, costing a fortune in bills. But could YOU unlock thousands in savings with a few simple upgrades?
New research by property website Rightmove has revealed that a shocking 18 million homes in the UK have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D or below. That’s over half of all the homes in the country!
An EPC rates your home on how energy efficient it is. A higher rating (A-C) means lower energy bills and a smaller carbon footprint.
The problem is, millions of us are stuck with homes that are energy inefficient, leaving us with sky-high energy bills.
How much could a bad EPC rating be costing you?
The difference in energy bills between homes with good and bad EPC ratings is staggering.
Rightmove’s research shows that a three-bedroom house with an EPC rating of F could face annual energy bills of £4,431. But a similar house with an EPC rating of C would cost just £1,669 per year – a whopping saving of £2,762!
Here’s how much the average three-bedroom house costs to heat depending on its EPC rating:
| EPC Rating | Average annual energy bill |
| A | £508 |
| B | £1,039 |
| C | £1,669 |
| D | £2,340 |
| E | £3,292 |
| F | £4,431 |
| G | £5,674 |
What can be done to improve energy efficiency?
There are several ways to improve your home’s EPC rating, including:
- Upgrading windows: New, double-glazed windows are far more efficient at keeping the heat in.
- Insulating your roof and floor: A well-insulated home will lose less heat, reducing your energy bills.
- Installing solar panels: Generate your own green energy and slash your electricity bills.
- Switching from a gas boiler to a heat pump: Heat pumps are a more energy-efficient way to heat your home.
Brits demand action on green homes
A new survey by Rightmove found that a huge 87% of renters and 83% of homeowners believe the government should do more to help people make their homes greener.
The biggest motivator? You guessed it – saving money on energy bills!
Rightmove is urging the government to make it easier for homeowners and landlords to access financial support for green home improvements.
Tim Bannister, a property expert at Rightmove, said: “Many homeowners and landlords need urgent access to schemes that enable them to make these improvements, which could help with huge savings on energy bills.
“Each home requires different improvements and the upfront costs are a huge barrier to change. Without more help, many home-owners and tenants will continue to live in high-carbon emitting homes with high energy costs.”