Which inexperienced options do houses with excessive EPC scores have?

The ranking and rating on an Vitality Efficiency Certificates (EPC) displays how a lot vitality it takes to energy a house and hold it heat.

A house’s vitality ranking ranges from A (best) to G (least environment friendly). Properties may also be given a rating out of 100. The upper the quantity, the decrease vitality payments are more likely to be

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

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

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

Sensible lighting

Lighting is likely one of the options that contributes in the direction of a house’s EPC ranking. Vitality-efficient gentle bulbs, corresponding to LEDs (gentle emitting diodes), last more and generate much less warmth, so that they scale back a family’s vitality consumption.

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

A house with an EPC ‘A’ ranking

Your private home’s energy-efficiency certificates could 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 advisable enhancements are carried out.

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

You’ll be able to learn the way to examine your property’s EPC ranking right here.

Triple glazing

This oak-clad, end-of-terrace house has an EPC ranking of B. And together with underfloor heating, photo voltaic panels and low water-consumption faucets, it additionally has tripled-glazed home windows. Usually, a house loses extra warmth by means of its home windows than wherever else, and plenty of home-owners are actually contemplating this kind of improve to make their house extra vitality environment friendly.

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

Good insulation

Good insulation isn’t nearly holding a house heat: it’ll assist hold it at a cushty temperature all year long. Nevertheless it’s notably helpful throughout winter, as you’re much less more likely to have warmth escape by means of poorly insulated partitions or roofs, or have draughts.

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

Air supply warmth pump

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