Increasing the energy efficiency in your home is important for both you and for the environment. It can lower energy bills, increase comfort and even play a part in protecting your health. It can be done in many ways, including changing your main heating source to a more environmentally friendly and energy efficient option or installing retrofit measures that increase the insulation of your home.
We usually think of the resulting benefits that would be most apparent in winter, such as keeping your home warm at a lower cost, which is a key reason to make these changes. However, the benefits of increasing energy efficiency will be apparent all year-round. In warmer months, it is easier for a well-insulated house to stay a comfortable temperature.
Switching to environmentally friendly energy sources is essential for the UK to meet its energy targets and plays a critical role in taking action against the climate emergency.
The advice detailed below gives a general overview on how to identify what improvements you can make to your home. More detailed information is available on our Countywide Action on Energy Cambridgeshire website.
A new Home Energy Upgrade Guide for Cambridgeshire homes has also been developed where you can explore the most common improvements suitable for your type of home.
Some households may be eligible for grant-funded support, while others may choose to pay for improvements and access national incentives.
There are a range of national and local schemes available to help you:
- reduce your energy bills
- improve your home’s energy efficiency
- install low carbon heating and renewable technologies
Funding availability can change, so we recommend checking your options before starting any work.
What support is currently available
Available now:
- Boiler Upgrade Scheme - grants up to £9,000 for low carbon heating such as heat pumps
- Smart Export Guarantee – allows households and businesses to be paid for renewable electricity exported to the national grid
Limited availability:
- Warm Homes Local Grant – advice and funding for eligible households looking to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.
This is a fully funded grant scheme for eligible residents however the scheme is very oversubscribed. We are operating a waiting list pending future funding.
- Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) – funding for eligible residents to help improve the energy efficiency of their homes
Closed schemes
- Great British Insulation Scheme - limited insulation measures for eligible residents
- ECO4 Flex -Unfortunately, the funding that was designated for this has now been withdrawn by many of the energy companies, we do not anticipate that any new funding will be made available during the remaining time before the ECO4 scheme closes
Although closed to new applications, we still need to display all versions of the Statement Of Intent’s for scheme compliance.
Where to start
The right approach and number of measures you plan to take will depend on what you want to achieve, how energy efficient your home currently is, your personal circumstances and finances.
- You can find additional home energy efficiency information, guidance and application forms for the Warm Homes Local Grant on our Action on Energy Cambridgeshire website
- Use the GOV.UK online tool to identify recommendations for your home
- Contact our Customer Service team on 01353665555 and ask to speak to the Retrofit Projects Officer for further support.
Checking your Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
A good starting point is to check if you home has previously had an energy efficiency survey that produced an Energy Performance Certificate.
An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) shows how energy efficient your home is and provides recommendations for improvements.
Not every home will have a current EPC. You can pay for the survey that produces the EPC. Further information about this - Get a new energy certificate on GOV.UK's website.
Your EPC includes:
- An energy rating from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient)
- Estimated energy costs for your home
- Recommended measures to improve efficiency
- A potential rating if improvements are made
Checking your EPC is a useful starting point if you are considering making changes to your home, as it can help you understand:
- Where your home is losing energy
- What improvements may be suitable
- Which measures to prioritise
- Eligibility for nationally funded schemes
Taking a whole-house approach
Improving your home is most effective when different measures are considered together.
For example: Insulation, heating and ventilation all work together
Installing one measure (such as a new heating system) without considering others (such as insulating the loft or cavity walls) means that the heat you are producing escapes quicker through uninsulated walls and roof. Your heating system will work harder to maintain the temperature you desire. This will result in your energy bill being higher than it should be.
If you are replacing your heating system, you may also need to install a larger heating unit if your home is not well insulated.
Considering the whole home can help:
- improve energy efficiency
- avoid unintended issues
- ensure improvements work effectively together
Getting advice before starting work can help you take the right approach for your home.
Fabric First
Before installing new heating or renewable technologies, it is often recommended to improve the building fabric first.
This includes:
- insulating walls, lofts and floors
- reducing draughts
- improving windows and doors
Improving the fabric of your home can:
- reduce heat loss
- reduce the cost of heating your home
- improve comfort in extreme weather events
- help heating systems work more efficiently
Taking this approach can help ensure improvements perform as expected and provide better long-term value.
Planning improvements over time
You do not need to carry out all improvements at once.
Planning improvements over time can help you:
- spread the cost
- make the right improvements in the right order
- avoid unnecessary or repeated work
Getting advice early can help you develop a plan that works for your home, lifestyle and budget. Further information about appropriate improvements for your home, potential costs and complexity of each measure is available in the Your Home Energy Upgrade Guide.
Use trusted installers
When installing energy measures, you should ensure that your installer:
• Is MCS certified (for renewable technologies such as Air Source Heat Pumps and Solar PV)
• Is registered with TrustMark
Additional tips for finding a good tradesperson can be viewed on the TrustMark website.
Ventilation and air quality
When improving insulation and making your home more airtight, it is important to ensure your home remains properly ventilated.
Good ventilation can help to:
- reduce condensation
- prevent damp and mould
- improve indoor air quality
Simple measures such as using extractor fans, opening windows where appropriate, and ensuring ventilation systems are working correctly can help maintain a healthy home.
Keeping your home cool in hot weather
Making improvements to your home can also help keep it cooler during warmer weather.
Even small changes can help reduce overheating:
- Closing blinds or curtains during the day whilst the sun is shining on them
- opening windows in the evening or early morning when it is cooler
- increasing ventilation by opening windows on opposite sides of your home to help warm air escape
- using shading, such as external blinds or planting
- improving insulation, which helps keep your home cooler in the warm weather and warmer in colder weather
Planning improvements carefully can help keep your home comfortable all year round
Solar panels and battery storage
If you are considering solar panels, you may also want to install a battery storage system.
A battery allows you to store electricity generated during the day and use it later, for example in the evening.
This can help you:
- use more of the energy you generate
- reduce the amount of electricity you buy from the grid
- lower your energy bills
Using your battery effectively
Now that most energy providers are offering lower electricity prices at certain times of day, a battery can also be used to shift when you buy energy (sometimes called “load shifting”).
This means:
- Pulling energy from the grid when it is cheap (normally a 4 to 6 hour window overnight)
- Using that stored electricity later when buying energy is most expensive, such as early evening
The Energy Saving Trust can help you to understand how you could generate your own renewable electricity at home, find ways to save energy and find energy efficient products: Energy Saving Trust website.
Plug in Solar PV
Please read our article on the new plug-in solar technology on our website.
Smart tariffs and flexible energy use
Some electricity tariffs charge different prices at different times of day. These can help reduce the cost of your electric particularly if you are able to shift
- Using electricity at off-peak times when it is cheaper
- Charging batteries or electric vehicles at lower-cost times
- Using timers or smart controls to manage when energy is used
A smart meter is usually required to access these tariffs.
Water use and efficiency
Using water efficiently can also help reduce energy use and household costs.
Heating water for washing and bathing uses energy, so reducing water use can also help lower your energy bills.
If you are on a flexible time of use energy tariff and heat and store that heated water using an Air Source Heat Pump or hot water cylinder, consider altering the heating schedule so it heats when the cost of the energy is cheapest.
Simple steps to reduce water use also include:
- Fixing dripping taps or leaks
- Using water-efficient shower heads or appliances
- Running washing machines and dishwashers with full loads
- Avoiding unnecessary water use where possible
Taking small steps can help reduce your bills and make your home more efficient overall.