Knowing your Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating is the best place to start before you make any energy efficiency changes. Simply put, your EPC is a document which gives your home an energy efficiency rating from A (being the most efficient) to G. Your EPC isn’t just a snapshot of your property’s current energy efficiency, it also tells you what standard you can reach by making eco friendly home improvements. 

If you don’t have an EPC rating for your home or if your existing rating is out of date, you can arrange for an accredited and DBS-checked Domestic Energy Assessor to carry out an EPC survey. It will cost between £35 and £120 depending on your property2. 

Compare assessors and find the best deal for your needs.

Each home is unique and may need different green home improvements to boost energy performance.

At Coventry Building Society, we have just the instrument that can help you. Our Home Energy Efficiency Tool can pinpoint the changes that will have the biggest impact on your home's EPC. By filling in details about your property, such as the type of building it is, its age, and how you heat it, our tool will generate personalised recommendations to guide you towards a more environmentally friendly and efficient house or flat.

You don’t need a big budget to make an impact. Improving your home’s energy efficiency isn’t just about fitting solar panels or heat pumps, little changes can go a long way.

Look at switching to LED bulbs, which use up to 90% less energy than traditional incandescent light bulbs3. Measures such as draft excluders and weather stripping seals can reduce drafts and prevent heat loss, helping you to cut your bills by around £35 per year⁴.  

Other ways you can reduce costs and improve efficiency include retrofitting a hot water cylinder jacket which, according to the Centre for Sustainable Energy, can reduce heat loss by up to 75% and save you £50 a year⁵.

Remember, you don’t have to make physical changes to lower energy bills either. Don’t underestimate the power of thermostat settings. Lowering your thermostat by just one degree could save you up to £145 a year on heating costs⁶.   

When you’re ready to make more substantial green home improvements, there are schemes that could provide you with financial support. Some of the current options available include the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and the Great British Insulation Scheme. These are designed to help homeowners offset the cost of replacing outdated heating systems and could provide free or cheaper insulation to reduce your home’s energy bills.

More support might be on the way too. The new Labour government is proposing to introduce a 'Warm Homes Plan'⁷ aimed at reducing energy bills by providing grants and low-interest loans for insulation, solar panels, batteries, and low-carbon heating improvements.

If you need support with improving your home’s energy efficiency, Coventry Building Society can provide a helping hand too. We offer Green Additional Borrowing, which gives homeowners a lower interest rate when you borrow up to £25k more to put towards energy efficiency enhancements.