How to Increase the Value of My Norfolk House by making it More Energy-Efficient
A home energy assessment (EPC) is an evaluation of the energy efficiency of your Norfolk home. It also includes recommendations for ways to increase the energy efficiency of your home. An EPC is required if you are selling, leasing or renting property. Even if you are not planning on selling your house, you should take a look at the EPC of your property to see what you can do for your carbon footprint and energy costs.
The EPC gives your home an energy rating of A to G. It is valid for a period of 10 years. The government website allows you to access an EPC for any property. The Energy Performance Certificate typically uses a scale from A to G. G represents the lowest energy efficiency rating and steps should be made to make the home more energy efficient if you are thinking of selling the property.
The scale has been colour-coded so homeowners can see how efficient their homes are. But how are EPC ratings calculated? A qualified assessor will examine the total energy use of your property to calculate its overall efficiency. It will include how high your home is susceptible to heat loss or heat gain, the level of insulation, double or single glazing, as well as whether it has any.
Each inspection section will be given a score based on its efficiency or inefficiency. Based on this average score, an assessor will calculate the EPC rating for your property. If you are rated A for insulation and G for heating efficiency, then your EPC rating could be C or D. The assessor will also score the inspection using SAP (Standard Assessment Procedure) which was developed by the government to help measure the environmental and energy performance of homes.
What Can I Do to Benefit From a High EPC Rating?
- Energy bills lower - Adding more energy-efficient measures to your house will reduce your consumption, and thus your energy bills.
- Property value can be improved - If you are thinking of selling your home, improving its energy rating could help to increase the value of your property.
- Green mortgages may offer lower rates of mortgage.
- Reduce your carbon footprint by improving the energy efficiency of your Norfolk property. This will reduce your carbon emissions and energy costs.
What Is The Average Cost To Get My Property Graded C?
According to research, the average cost for upgrading a house with an EPC rating D or C is £6,155. A one-bedroom apartment with an EPC rating of D to C will run around £3,653 while a smaller, mid-terrace home could cost as high as £6,400. For energy-saving upgrades, larger detached houses will likely cost about £12,540, more than twice the national average. You should easily be able increase the EPC rating of your property to C if it has a rating D like most properties in the UK.
How to Improve Your EPC Rating
An essential step to reducing your energy costs and combating climate change is improving the EPC rating of your property. We emit less greenhouse gases if we heat and power our homes with less energy. It is essential to have efficient homes, even if you switch completely to renewable energy. Inefficient homes require more electricity from the grid and will put more strain on renewable energy sources.
Grids that are entirely powered by renewable energy can generate electricity more efficiently than grids that use fossil fuels. The likelihood of power outages increases when there is a higher demand for electricity than the renewable grid can handle. We are still far from having enough storage capacity to handle large energy demand spikes. It is imperative that the entire housing stock in the UK is restructured, particularly considering that the majority of homes in the UK are graded D according to EPC ratings. This is a significant problem, as it is not possible to reach C for homes located within bands D-G. While it is clear that the UK government must do more to increase the housing stock in the UK, there are some things you can do to make your home more energy efficient.
- Top up Your Loft Insulation: This is the best and most cost-effective way to increase your EPC rating. A rating can be improved by converting from no insulation to 270mm. In many cases, even adding additional insulation will improve your rating by 2-5 points.
- Insulating Cavity Walls: Cavity walls should be insulated as your EPC rating can be improved by 5-10 points by insulating a cavity.
- Upgrading your Heating is a Must: The EPC considers the heating system as a key factor. Your rating will be improved by upgrading to a condensing boiler. This depends on how old the system is. Your EPC rating will be significantly improved by replacing it with an efficient model. An intelligent thermostat or thermostatic radiator valve can help you increase your SAP points.
- Insulate the Hot Water Tank: Although not everyone owns a hot water container, insulation is advisable. It is easy and cheap, and it will increase your rating by several points.
- Glazing: If your single-glazed windows are not double-glazed, you can upgrade to double-glazed glazing. While it would not make a significant difference, the average increase in energy efficiency will be several points. Double glazing is still recommended for older windows.
- Documentation: If insulation has been installed or you suspect that insulation may have been left behind by an occupant, you need to obtain documentation so the EPC assessor can verify. This documentation can sometimes make a difference in the way that an improvement is actually installed. This is true for both windows installation and any other improvement.
- Closed chimneys should be sealed: A sluggish chimney or open fire can actually affect the EPC rating. To improve the EPC rating, you can block them up and/or install a heater inside. Although draughty chimneys might seem minor, they are major contributors to condensation in the home. Condensation is a sign of mould, which can lead to a lower EPC rating.
- Insulation by solid wall: A property with solid walls will have a lower EPC rating than a comparable cavity wall property. A solid wall can be insulated either internally or externally, but it is more expensive. It can improve the EPC rating of a property by as much as 10-20 points. If you are interested in maximising your EPC rating, this is the right choice.
- Renewables: Depending on how large the solar PV system is, it should increase your rating. You could increase your rating by 10 points if you have larger 16-panel systems. Although solar thermal is generally more expensive than PV systems, it will add only a few points. Although wind turbines may improve your rating, this will only be true for large turbines located in rural areas. The EPC for small urban turbines is not as important as the impact on your electricity supply.
- Lighting and Draught Proofing: You can increase the rating by adding draught proofing or switching to more energy efficient lights. An LED bulb can last between 20 and 30 years as opposed to a traditional halogen light, which only has a two-year working life. It is easy and inexpensive to install LED bulbs into all light fixtures, which will help you slightly increase your EPC rating.
What is the cost to hire an expert to complete an Energy Performance Certificate?
EPCs are expensive, but the cost is usually much less for many properties. Although all properties require an EPC to be able to sell or rent, it is not a good idea choosing the most expensive. So make sure that you compare prices and get the best deals. It is usually cheaper to go directly to an EPC assessor than through an agent. Although homeowners are not required to increase their EPC rating as a matter of law, all properties that have been sold, leased or constructed must be certified. The government is considering new regulations to require property owners with an EPC rating C or higher. Many benefits can be gained by raising your EPC rating from a D to a C. You will enjoy lower energy costs, a smaller carbon footprint and a healthier and greener society.