What is an energy performance certificate (EPC)?
If you are selling or renting out your home in Northern Ireland, you’ll need an energy performance certificate (EPC). An EPC tells you how energy efficient your home is, and rates your property from A (very efficient) to G (inefficient). Based on your property’s rating, it shows potential heating and lighting costs, as well as details of the property like insulation, heating systems and windows. It also advises you on some of the steps you could take to save energy and how this might affect your energy bills.
How to make your home more energy efficient
1. Turn down your thermostat
A simple way to make your home more energy efficient is to turn down your thermostat by one or two degrees. Decreasing the temperature slightly can significantly increase your homes energy efficiency. However, everyone is different so you set the lowest comfortable temperature for you. The Energy Savings Trust UK have some more information on heating your home as well as potential savings on your energy bills.
2. The benefits of a smart thermostat
A smart thermostat allows you to control the heating remotely, so you can turn it on just before returning home, rather than heating an empty house. It can also help to regulate the temperature, based on whether you’re at home, which room of the house you’re in, or if there’s a change in conditions, like an open window.
3. Replace your boiler or heating system
Replacing an old inefficient boiler with a newer model can improve your EPC rating. Or you may prefer to upgrade your heating system to a heat pump, which is far more energy efficient than a traditional gas boiler.
How does a heat pump work?
A heat pump runs on electricity and moves heat rather than burning fossil fuel to generate it. It takes warmth from the outside air, moving it inside and raising the temperature to heat your home. It also has lower carbon emissions and a longer lifespan than a gas boiler.
4. Insulate your hot water tank
Wrapping your hot water tank with an insulation or lagging jacket can help you to conserve energy by keeping your water hotter for longer. It’s recommended to have an insulation jacket that is at least 80mm thick to improve your EPC rating*.
5. Change to LED lighting
Switching to LED lightbulbs can improve energy efficiency by reducing your energy consumption and carbon emissions. LED lightbulbs use less electricity than traditional incandescent or halogen bulbs and have a longer lifespan.
6. Upgrade your window glazing
If you have single glazed windows, it’s estimated that around 18% of your home’s heat is lost through your windows*. Upgrading to double glazing can improve your home’s energy efficiency by reducing the amount of heat lost and helping to maintain a more consistent temperature. This reduces your energy consumption and helps to lower the property’s carbon footprint.
7. Draught-proof your windows and doors
As well as through the glazing itself, you can also lose heat from gaps around window frames and doors. A simple way to keep the heat in, is to put draught-excluders around window frames and along the bottom of doors. You should be able to find draught-excluders at most DIY stores.
8. Improve your insulation
In a traditional house, it’s estimated that around 26% of your heat is lost through the roof*. By insulating your loft or attic, you can help your home retain the heat and conserve energy. Insulating your cavity walls and floors will also help to reduce heat loss and improve energy efficiency.
9. Consider renewable energy upgrades
Installing solar panels could potentially make a big difference to your EPC rating. Solar panels generate renewable energy by capturing sunlight and converting it into electricity for your home. This means you won’t need to pay for as much additional electricity. And, if you generate more electricity than you can use, you can sell this back to the national grid.
Whether you start with something easy, like turning down your thermostat or insulating your hot water tank, or opt for something more comprehensive, like installing double glazing, solar panels, or a heat pump we hope there are plenty of ideas here to help you make your home more energy-efficient and aim to improve your EPC rating in the process..
Where can I find my EPC?
If you own a property in Northern Ireland, you can find the EPC on the government website here. If the EPC for your property has expired, you can also find out how to get a new one here.
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Keep your home covered
Find the perfect protection for your home with AXA Home Insurance. We offer a range of discounts from 10% if you get a quote online, to 35% if you’ve been claims-free for three years. Most of our policies come with 24/7 Emergency Home Assistance as standard, with the exception of our buildings under construction policy.
*You can find more information from The Energy Trust.
