Boiler company BOXT found that increasing the EPC rating of your home to
C or above could boost your house price by 23%. So, if you’re thinking about
selling your property, you may want to consider improving its energy rating to
maximise value.
For property
newbies, an EPC is a measure of how energy efficient a property is. The ratings
lie on a scale of A to G and are accompanied by a report on how to reduce fuel
usage and decrease carbon emissions.
In this two-minute
read, we look at some quick and simple ways to enhance your property’s energy
efficiency level and/or reduce your energy bills.
1)
Install a smart meter
Smart meters are a great way to let you and your
supplier know how much energy you’re using and how much you’re spending. The
government ordered all gas and electricity suppliers to provide smart meters to
their customers, so they’re free of charge and do away with the need for
individual gas and electric meter readings.
2)
Switch to LED
If you haven’t done this already, then you’re missing
out. Advantages of LED bulbs include lower energy usage, longer lifetime,
different colour lighting and increased durability. This small change could
make a huge difference to your bills and reduce your carbon footprint.
3)
Upgrade your boiler
While this is one of the more costly changes on our
list, it is the top way to improve the energy rating of your home and reduce
your heating bills. But if you can’t afford a new boiler right now, get a
professional in to give it a full service and ensure it’s running at optimal
level.
4)
Draught excluders
Probably the easiest way to keep your home warm and
reduce energy loss, draught excluders quite literally plug the gap, preventing
heat loss and reducing draughts. You can get movable draught excluders to put
in front of doors and self-adhesive ones to stick around windows. If you’ve got
a fireplace that you don’t use, think about ways to block heat escaping from
the chimney.
5)
Curtains
Thick curtains prevent heat loss from windows and keep
your home nice and cosy. It may mean paying out for new drapes, but thick,
lined curtains will make a difference to the comfort and cost of heating your
home.
If you’re thinking
about selling, speak to one of our team members at Ridgewater Sales and
Lettings to find out how much your home is worth.