Which inexperienced options do properties with excessive EPC scores have?

The score and rating on an Power Efficiency Certificates (EPC) displays how a lot vitality it takes to energy a house and maintain it heat.

A house’s vitality score ranges from A (most effective) to G (least environment friendly). Houses can even be given a rating out of 100. The upper the quantity, the decrease vitality payments are prone to be

The sorts of issues that may impression an EPC rating embrace the heating system throughout the house, and the way it’s managed; if the home windows are double or triple glazed; how effectively insulated the flooring and partitions are; and what kind of lighting has been put in.

So which options actually increase a property’s energy-efficiency rating?

We’ve taken a have a look at the energy-saving options put in in properties on the market with the highest two EPC scores of A and B.

Sensible lighting

Lighting is without doubt one of the options that contributes in the direction of a house’s EPC score. Power-efficient mild bulbs, resembling LEDs (mild emitting diodes), last more and generate much less warmth, in order that they scale back a family’s vitality consumption.

And good LED lighting may be automated. As an alternative of getting wall switches, a complete house’s lighting system may be managed from an app. This four-bedroom house in Corby, Northamptonshire, has an EPC score of B. It has numerous options contributing to its energy-efficiency score, together with a sensible lighting system and double glazed home windows.

A house with an EPC ‘A’ score

Your property’s energy-efficiency certificates can have two numbers for its energy-efficiency rating: its present rating – or what it scored on the time the certificates was ordered – and a ‘potential’ rating of what it might obtain if the really useful enhancements are carried out.

This house has reached its potential rating of 97/97 (an ‘A’ score) by utilizing an air-source warmth pump, photo voltaic panels and a warmth restoration system.

You’ll be able to learn the way to examine your own home’s EPC score right here.

Triple glazing

This oak-clad, end-of-terrace house has an EPC score of B. And together with underfloor heating, photo voltaic panels and low water-consumption faucets, it additionally has tripled-glazed home windows. Sometimes, a house loses extra warmth by way of its home windows than anyplace else, and lots of home-owners at the moment are contemplating this type of improve to make their house extra vitality environment friendly.

Learn extra about how triple glazing works, and its advantages and different issues to think about, right here.

Good insulation

Good insulation isn’t nearly protecting a house heat: it’ll assist maintain it at a cushty temperature all year long. However it’s notably useful throughout winter, as you’re much less prone to have warmth escape by way of poorly insulated partitions or roofs, or have draughts.

This four-bedroom house in Glastonbury has an EPC score of B, because of good insulation, photo voltaic panels and double glazing all through. There’s additionally a full insulated backyard studio excellent for working from house.

Air supply warmth pump

One of many low-carbon options to gasoline boilers are warmth pumps. Air supply warmth pumps are powered by electrical energy, and transfer warmth from the outside into your own home. This four-bed house in Lincolnshire has an air supply warmth pump that provides the house’s underfloor heating system.