How To Make Your Home More Energy Efficient

Research from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) shows that improving your home’s energy rating could increase its value by around 14%. For some homeowners, moving from Energy Performance Certificate band D to B could add an extra £16,000 onto their house value.

How you achieve this markup, and the financial benefits for your energy bills, depends on the changes you opt for. With think tanks proposing tough new energy efficiency standards for sellers, now’s the time to plan ahead.

The simple things
Small changes to your energy output can make a big impact if you choose them wisely. Simply turning appliances off standby mode could save the average home around £30 per year. Perhaps more effective still is switching your light bulbs to LED spotlights, which save £35 per year compared to halogens, and they also factor into your EPC rating.

Heating
New, efficient central heating is one of the most effective home improvements when it comes to adding value. Heating accounts for around 60% of your energy bills, so it’s no surprise that upgrading your central heating can add as much as 5.4% to your home’s valuation. Switching to a modern, condensing boiler can also help you pinch the pennies and boost your EPC rating.

Control
Believe it or not, you can use smart technology to take control of heating and energy costs. Effective use of a room thermostat alone can save up to £155 per year, and with smart tech like Hive Home or Lightwave RF, you can even manage your heating and lighting from your phone.

Insulation
Insulation might conjure up images of tradesmen opening up walls and depositing rockwool dust around your home, but roof, loft and cavity wall insulation is a surefire way to prevent heat from escaping. Simply blocking out draughts around windows and doors can save up to £35 per year, while covering floorboards and gaps where pipes enter the house can improve your heat retention even more, which is ideal for chilly winters.

Windows
Double glazing can add up to 10% to the value of your home and if you go for A-rated windows you might save as much as £110 per year on heating bills. Just remember to opt for fixtures and fittings that match your décor and don’t make changes to a listed property without express permission.

*This is a collaborative post*