What is an EPC and How Do I Improve Mine?

An Energy Performance Certificate, or EPC, is an official document that shows the current and potential energy efficiency rating of a home, with A being the most efficient and G being the least efficient. Despite energy efficiency being a topic that’s on everyone’s lips at the moment, only a third of UK households fall within the A-C ratings. 

 

Meanwhile, the Government is encouraging homeowners to improve their EPC ratings to band C by 2035, with a study showing that half of those currently in bands D-G could achieve it in one way or another. 

 

The question is, how do you do it? In this blog we’re sharing our top tips for improving the energy efficiency of your home both today and far into the future. 

When a home lacks suitable insulation, more than a third of its heat can be lost through the walls. Just as much or even more can be lost through the roof if the loft doesn’t have enough insulation, resulting in the building taking a long time to heat and never reaching a comfortable temperature. Then of course there’s the financial and environmental cost of so much heat being wasted, which is bad for your wallet and the planet alike. 

 

By having modern insulation fitted in your walls, roof and even your floor (believe it or not, up to 15% of heat can be lost into the ground), you’re sealing in the warmth and won’t have to use the central heating anywhere near as much. Though this comes with an upfront cost, the savings over the years can be significant, plus your home will be much more eco-friendly. 

Many people don’t realise just how much additional insulation new doors and windows add to a property. Double glazing is excellent at retaining heat within the home and offers many other benefits, such as blocking out harmful UV rays, preventing condensation, stopping external noise from disturbing your day, and upgrading the security of your home. The same goes for new uPVC and composite doors, as they come with outstanding thermal efficiency and highly secure seals that make heating your home a much easier and more affordable task. 

Low-energy LED bulbs really do make a difference to how much electricity a home uses over the course of a year, especially during winter when the nights are so much longer. LED bulbs are very affordable these days and use around 90% less energy than traditional bulbs, plus they last up to fifteen times longer. As well as saving you money, this also means that you’ll find yourself having to replace light bulbs far less often, which reduces household waste. 

If you’re interested in having a chat about how Total Home Developments can help you to run a more energy efficient and environmentally friendly home, get in touch through our contact form for free advice about new doors and windows and our cost-effective glass replacement service.