How to improve your energy rating

This new requirement is part of the government\'s Warm Homes Plan, which aims to improve energy efficiency and reduce fuel poverty. The current minimum rating is E. 

• Impact—Landlords will no longer be able to rent out properties with a rating of D or lower. This is part of the Government\'s plan to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The previous Conservative government had similar plans, but they were scrapped in 2023. 
• Replacement - EPCs will be replaced by the Home Energy Model, which will use a new Future Homes Standard assessment. This assessment will measure all the windows at the property rather than relying on assumptions based on the property\'s age.

There are many ways of impacting your EPC rating to make it more energy efficient.

Top up your loft insulation—this is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to improve your EPC rating. Going from no insulation to 270mm can improve the rating by 10 or 15 points, while even a top-up on existing insulation can improve the rating by 2-5 points in many cases. 

Window insulation – alongside loft insulation, installing double or secondary glazing to a property, is a major contributing factor, which can increase your rating and lower bills. 

If you have single-glazed windows, upgrading to new double-glazing will make several points difference on average – not as much as wall and loft insulation, but still a noticeable increase. If you already have double glazing, even if it is old, there is not going to be much improvement in the rating. 

Unfortunately, you can no longer get double-glazing grants from the Government. Instead, you’ll have to self-finance these improvements. Many companies offer finance options to make it more affordable. 

Boiler replacement – If you have an old boiler, upgrading to a new condensing model will improve your rating by 5-20 points, depending on the current system\'s age. Boiler grants are also available. Boiler types explained

Wall installation is a great way to prevent heat from escaping from the property. The property will stay warmer for a long time, and the heating bills will be lower. 

The thickness of the insulation needs to be between 50 and 100mm and is usually installed where there are severe heating problems. 

Period properties are difficult to install wall installation, as there was no provision for this when they were built.

Seal Open Chimneys—If the chimney is not closed, heat loss occurs. Only certain chimneys can be closed. If the property has a gas fire or a log burner, the chimney should not be shut.

Using a Chimney Sheep or a Chimney Sock can prevent drafts and reduce noise, wildlife, and falling dust and debris.