OFTEC have raised concerns around the slow progress being made improving the efficiency ratings of UK homes.
After 20 years of progress in the area, the average Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of UK homes has remained at 62 (EPC band D), the same as it was in 2015, revealing that improvements to the energy efficiency of UK homes has all but come to a stop.
Their thoughts on the topic of home efficiency were expressed in the English Housing Survey (EHS) 2017-18, recently published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Particular concern has been expressed around off-grid rural properties using oil to heat their homes. This is because the average energy rating for rural homes is much lower than the overall UK average:
- Only 3% have have an EPC band A-C
- 97% have an EPC rating of D-G
Up until now, rural homes haven’t received the necessary government support to increase their efficiency rating and OFTEC believe this should become a priority. However, this could be difficult as the funding used to help homes increase their efficiency has been in decline.
In the report, OFTEC CEO Paul Rose stated: “Looking further ahead, if the government is to meet its targets to reduce the harmful emissions that contribute to climate change, it must reduce energy demand.
“Improving the energy efficiency of the UK’s housing stock will be crucial if we are to make rapid progress in this area. Most of the easy wins have already been done and deep retrofit costs for hard-to-treat rural homes can often cost tens of thousands of pounds.
“With massive pressure on public finances, we will need to quickly find and adopt the most practical and cost-effective solutions to meet these challenges – something that will be far from simple to achieve.”
What are EPC Ratings?
An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating shows the energy efficiency of a property as a letter from A-G, with A being the most efficient. An EPC rating is given after taking the following measurements:
- Energy used per m²
- Annual carbon dioxide emissions
Your property is required to provide an EPC rating when it comes to selling your home, showing potential buyers how much they could expect to pay for their energy bills.
A New Boiler Could Save You Money
If your current boiler was installed any more than 8 years ago then you should consider replacing it with a new, more efficient unit.
All boilers have an efficiency rating and understanding these ratings could help to save you money on your energy bills. So, if your current boiler has an efficiency rating of 70%, then for every £1 being spent on heating the home, 30p is wasted to lost energy. Replace this unit with a boiler that is 90% efficient and you’re already making a 20p saving on every £1 you spend on energy.
According to the Energy Saving Trust, replacing a boiler with an ErP rating between D-G with an A-rated condensing boiler, could save you between £100 and £320 a year.
