Tue 16 Jul 2019

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Making your Home more Energy Efficient

Whether you are planning to rent out your home or sell it, you will be required to have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).  In fact, EPCs are considered so important, that the government made it a legal requirement that your property conforms to a minimum performance rating of E if you are letting your property.  This came in to effect as of 1^st April 2018.

An EPC survey can be easily and swiftly carried out.  At Oulsnams, we have a dedicated team of professionals whose job it is to undertake these surveys for both the lettings and sales teams.

One of the main benefits of having an EPC, is that it will improve the overall energy efficiency of your home.  This means, amongst other things, that you will likely save money on your energy bills.

So, what is an Energy Performance Certificate?

​​​​You will likely have noticed a coloured sticker on the side of any new appliance you might have bought.  This tells you how efficient your new fridge or washing machine is.  This is exactly the same rating system for buildings. 

Each building has an EPC rating from A to G, with A being the most and G being the least efficient.  These ratings give you super important information about the likely costs of heating or cooling your home.  These tend to be figures that potential buyers are very interested in when it comes to purchasing a new home.

How Can You Improve Your EPC Rating?

Insulate!

Consider installing some, or more efficient roof insulation.  This usually remains effective for around 40 years, so it’s a good long-term investment if you’re planning on staying put once you’ve bought your new pad.

Windows and Doors

Older properties might only have single glazing.  It might be a good idea to look at the possibility of installing double, or even triple glazing.  Composite doors are also really effective at keeping in more heat, and are a very cost-effective replacement exercise.  They also have the added bonus of giving the front of your home a new, fresh look.

Go Solar

Adding solar panels to your home is an excellent way to score high on the EPC scale. 

Regulate the Temperature

Modern thermostats like Hive and Nest are great for remotely and efficiently controlling the temperature of your home.  You don’t want to be heating something unnecessarily or firing up the boiler to get to hot temperatures only to have to cool down and then reheat.

Lighting

Replacing halogen lights with modern, efficient LEDs or compact fluorescent lights will have a really positive impact on your EPC rating.

Fill the Cavities

If possible, it is a good idea to inspect your walls for any cavities.  If you find some, maybe consider filling them, which will significantly reduce the risk of air infiltration which can impact on your EPC rating too.

Having an up to date EPC is a useful exercise, even if you are not planning on selling or renting your home.  If you have recently had building work or alterations to your home carried out, you might be interested to learn how much you have improved your home efficiency.  Or, you might want to know this information before you begin the works!  If so, contact any of our sales offices, who will be able to organise this to be carried out for you.