How to improve your EPC rating

An EPC rating tells you how energy efficient your home is. The better the rating, the more money you could save on heating and lighting bills. Find out how to improve your rating with our handy video and recommendations.

 

What’s a good EPC rating?

The rating is awarded by an independent assessor who looks at things like insulation, average energy costs and window glazing to determine your final score out of 100. Scores are grouped to give an overall rating of A to G. The higher the EPC rating, the better it is.

You can use the government’s EPC checker to find out what your property's EPC rating is and see whether your certificate is still valid. EPCs last for 10 years but you’ll need to be re-assessed if you’ve had work carried out on the property.

Watch our video to find out more about how to improve your EPC rating.

🕑 1 min 52 secs

Our energy-efficient recommendations


For homes with a lower energy efficiency rating, you can do things to improve it. 
Your EPC will give recommendations on how to do this.

 

Benefits to improving your EPC rating

  • Lower energy bills. If your home is more energy efficient, you should pay less to keep it warm.
  • Potential higher returns. When you sell your home, buyers may be willing to pay a little more if they know their energy bills will be lower.
  • Earn cashback. Up to £2,000 with our Eco Home Reward for eligible customers.

Terms and conditions apply to any offers, and they can be changed or withdrawn at any time.

Things you can do today

Change your light bulbs

Swapping your light bulbs to long-life LED bulbs could reduce your energy usage and improve your rating. It’s an easy fix that can save money and energy over time.

Block out draughts

Draughts can leave your house feeling cold and have you turning up the heating. Block up gaps where draughts come in under doors and around windows. This will then lead to a reduction in your utility bills, improving your EPC rating.

Looking after your home


Keeping your home up to date and well looked after will help keep it warm and energy efficient.
 

Boilers

Regularly service boilers to make sure they are running efficiently and safely.

Upgrading your old boiler to a new energy-efficient one can go a long way to enhancing your property’s EPC rating.

Or, install a heat pump. It is an energy-efficient way of heating your home.​

Windows

Updating your single-glazed windows to either double or triple glazing can stop heat escaping.

EPC ratings can also be improved by swapping wooden frames for more energy-efficient ones.

Using thick curtains will add another layer of insulation too.

Energy-efficient home improvements through our partners


We've teamed up with Octopus Energy and Effective Home to help make your home more energy efficient.
By applying with one of our partners you could be entitled to cashback on qualifying home improvements.

 

Solar panels

Solar panels generate power for your home and will improve your EPC rating by converting sunlight into clean, renewable energy.

 

More about solar panels

Heat pumps

Heat pumps can be an energy-efficient way of heating your home and could help lower your home’s carbon footprint.

More about heat pumps

Home insulation

Adding loft, wall, and floor insulation to your home is vital for keeping it warm and cosy, reducing the cost of your heating.

More on home insulation

Fitting the right controls

Replace your radiator valves

If your boiler is fitted with a flow meter that detects when all of your radiator valves are closed, you can install a thermostatic radiator valve (TRV).

This will allow you to control the temperature of individual radiators to help save energy by only heating the rooms you need.

Install a smart meter

Become more aware of your energy usage by installing a smart meter. With live updates on charges, it’s a good way to budget.

You can improve your energy rating by lowering your usage.

 

You may also like

Energy Performance Certificates

Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) show how energy efficient a house is.

How to get an EPC

Eco home tool

The eco home tool is great for working out where you could save money on energy bills.

Try the eco home tool

Paying for energy-efficient home improvements

Learn how we could help you put your plans into action.

Funding home improvements

Eco home hub

Find out more about our eco home offers, tips and tools to start saving energy. And learn how the accredited installers we’ve teamed up with could help.

Eco home hub

Person relaxing in garden.

Eco home hub

Find out more about our eco home offers, tips and tools to start saving energy. And learn how the accredited installers we’ve teamed up with could help.

Eco home hub