Even if you are living in an older property, there are measures you can take to make your property more energy-efficient. If you’re not sure where to begin, you may want to look at your most recent EPC. This will give you an overview of your property’s current energy efficiency and what you can do to improve it.
However, if you have not had an EPC inspection recently, some recommendations include:
1. Install a smart meter
A smart meter won’t make your property more energy-efficient in and of itself. However, it’s a worthy addition to your property for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it ensures that energy bills are accurate as energy usage data is transmitted directly to the supplier with no need for manual meter readings. This eliminates wasteful spending on estimated bills. Secondly, it allows you to measure the impact of energy-saving measures you take around the property in real-time.
Thirdly, your energy supplier will install a smart meter for you absolutely free of charge. And as long as it’s a second-generation SMETS 2 smart meter, it will remain fully functional if you switch energy suppliers.
2. Replace your windows and improve your insulation
Heating costs account for 47% of the average household’s energy bill. So it goes without saying that tackling heat loss should be a high priority for landlords.
Upgrading roof insulation, installing cavity wall insulation and replacing your windows can make your property far more thermally efficient. Upgrading windows and doors is also beneficial. Don’t make the mistake of assuming that all double-glazed windows are equally energy-efficient. Windows can lose their thermal efficiency in time, requiring them to be re-sealed or upgraded.
3. Upgrade your boiler
As boilers get older they become more prone to inefficiencies. If your radiators aren’t getting as hot as they used to, or take a long time to heat up this may be a sign that your property’s boiler is on its last legs.
Upgrading your boiler to a newer, more efficient, model or a greener alternative to a gas boiler could drastically improve the rating on your EPC.
4. Install solar panels
As well as combating energy waste, private landlords may want to find ways to generate their own 100% renewable energy. PV solar panels currently generate energy for around 900,000 homes across the country. These can supplement the energy your property uses from the national grid, driving down both your property’s energy bills and carbon footprint.
What’s more, your energy supplier will buy back any unused energy generated via the Smart Export Guarantee.
What support is available to you?
Until recently, the Green Homes Grant was a source of financial relief for landlords and owner-occupiers. This provided vouchers to cover up to 50% of the cost of eco-friendly insulation and heating.
However, the Green Homes Grant is unavailable to new applicants as of March 2021. While this is a source of disappointment for many landlords, there are alternative schemes that can help to offset the cost of energy-efficient home improvements.
Renewable Heat Incentive
The Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) has been around since April 2014. Over time it can help to mitigate the cost of installing eco-friendly heating technologies like solar water heaters, biomass boilers or air / ground source heat pumps.
Under the scheme, quarterly payments are made for 7 years as long as you abide by the terms of the scheme. How much you receive depends on the amount of renewable heat your installation generates.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme
Finally, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) will come into effect in the spring of 2022. This scheme is administered by the energy watchdog Ofgem and will offer grants to property owners to offset the cost of heating installations that don’t use fossil fuels.
This new scheme will replace the Renewable Heat Incentive, offering an upfront grant of £5,000 rather than quarterly payments.