Average four-bedroom houses in England and Wales are getting an ‘E’ energy rating, according to a survey undertaken since the introduction of Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) and Home Information Packs (HIPs). The early findings come from a snapshot survey of energy assessors and EPCs provided since the launch of HIPs six weeks ago, which show average four-bedroom homes are being rated ‘E’ and could typically save £180 on heating, £60 on lighting and £30 on hot water bills, annually.
Most homes are receiving an ‘E’ rating in their EPCs on the A-G scale, but this could potentially rise to a ‘C’ if consumers undertake measures recommended in the certificates, such as loft and cavity wall insulation.
The top five recommendations given by assessors for improving energy efficiency have been:
- cavity wall insulation;
- changing to low energy lighting;
- putting thermostatic valves on radiators;
- loft insulation;
- and double glazing.
Jonathan Kingerlee, chairman of eco-developer Kingerlee Homes, said: “These findings have demonstrated the huge differences in the energy performance between traditional housing stock and newly constructed homes, which should achieve an energy performance rating of ‘C’ under current regulations.
“Equally obvious will be the gap between these ‘standard new homes’ and those of committed eco-developers. At Kingerlee Homes our specifications include high levels of insulation, air-tightness and the elimination of thermal bridging. Houses at our flagship scheme in Lincoln Grove, Bladon, have already achieved the upper end of ‘B’ in the EPC rating.”
Kingerlee Homes is a family-run housebuilding business, specialising in high quality homes built to high environmental standards as well as conversions and mixed-use schemes. The company's operational area includes Oxfordshire and counties in the south Midlands, southwest and southern areas. Kingerlee Homes is a founder member of the Good Homes Alliance a group of housebuilding professionals that aims to build and promote sustainable homes and communities in the UK.
