How to improve your EPC to C or above and reduce energy costs up to 60% in your property – some advice landlords James and Tatiana Tanner who own rental property in Muswell Hill.
By 2025 landlords may only be able to rent a property to a new tenant with an EPC of a minimum of C (government has consulted on this, with decision pending as of Spring 2021). If landlords/ homeowners make their properties more energy efficient the benefit is they will reduce their energy costs and increase their EPC rating, USP for tenants: they will have lower energy bills and have more comfort. We have implemented these ideas below and the EPC on our house increased from G to almost A – 89 points, our heating bills reduced 60%.
Simple things you can do to make your property more energy efficient, most cost nothing.
- Review the timer for hot water, set it to on only when people need to use it eg 3 hours in the morning and evening, turn down temperature to 60 C, save up to 40 % on your heating bill.
- Review timer for central heating, turn on only when its cold, turn down thermostat temperature control unit at least 1 C to eg 16.5C and the boiler control unit.
- Fit thermostat controls on all radiators, turn off in rooms not used.
- Insulate hot water cylinder to reduce heat loss.
- When the heating is on close all windows to stop the heat escaping.
- Bleed all radiators several times a year
- Arrange boiler service and check boiler pressure.
- Fit sensor lighting externally and in communal areas so no lights are left on unnecessarily.
- Replace electricity provider for one which produces 100% clean electricity from renewable energy eg : Good Energy and Ecotricity.
- Draft proof windows and all external doors to stop draughts.
- Block chimneys not used to prevent draughts.
- Replace kitchen appliances and central heating boiler for the most energy efficient type possible (kitchen appliances A +++)
- Replace airbricks with Passivers which have sheep wool inside them, to stop cold air coming into the property and they let out moisture.
- Arrange a plumber to do a powerflush, to remove all the sludge which builds up inside your radiators and radiator pipework every 5 years, so less heating is needed.
- Install humidistats in bathrooms to automatically remove steam to reduce mould.
- Add natural breathable insulation in the loft eg sheep wool.
- Replace lighting for LED low energy lights
- Check your current Energy Performance Certificate EPC on your property online, and see the list of recommended ways to improve energy efficiency, see link https://find-energy-certificate.digital.communities.gov.uk/
Other options to make your property more energy efficient
Fit natural breathable internal or external cavity/ solid wall insulation on the walls which face outside, ground floor underfloor, basement, and roof insulation, with ventilation. Specialist professional advice including building control is needed.
Double/ triple glaze windows and glass on external doors.
Install PV panels on the roof with battery storage and use excess energy produced at night.
Next steps
Review your energy consumption, then apply the above tips to improve your EPC and reduce your energy usage/bills/ carbon footprint at least 50%.
For further information, check out Centre for Alternative Technology’s excellent free resources.
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James Tanner
Full time professional Landlord for 12 years, developer, letting and managing agent, management committee of a block of flats, member of the National Regional Landlord Association and Centre for Alternative Technology. We have a great interest in eco retrofitting more homes to reduce their energy usage/bills and carbon footprint.
Tatiana Tanner
BA in Psychology, an MA and an M.Phil. in Child Psychotherapy. Tatiana taught in several Post graduate courses at the Tavistock Clinic and the Anna Freud Centre, London, England and works as a teacher and in her own private practice a as Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist. She is an overseas member of the ACP in the UK. We have two sons and deeply care about the Impact Climate Change will have on future generations.