Energy efficiency: 5 things to consider when viewing a home

When searching for your next home, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement—envisioning how your furniture will fit in the living room, or picturing yourself hosting cosy dinner parties. But there’s one practical question it’s easy to overlook: What could my energy bills look like?

With energy costs remaining high, and predicted to rise again in the Spring under the energy price cap, considering this at the point you view a home could end up saving you money further down the line. After all, no one wants to get the keys to their dream home, only to face sky-high energy bills they hadn’t planned for.

So we enlisted the help of Energy Saving Trust’s energy expert, Brian Horne, who shares his top tips for spotting energy efficiency pitfalls (and opportunities) when viewing a property.

1. Check the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)

By law, sellers need to provide a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for any home they’re selling. EPCs are valid for 10 years, and it can be useful to think of it as a home’s report card: it gives you key insights into running costs and potential upgrades, as well as the home’s current rating.

Brian explains: “You can use an EPC to compare the energy efficiency of different homes you might be considering moving to, as well as their projected running costs.

To compare a prospective home with your current home, it’s best to look at the running costs on your existing EPC, rather than looking at your actual energy bills. This is so you’re comparing numbers that have been calculated in the same way, so you can make a like-for-like comparison.”

2. Think about the type of home you want

The kind of home you choose has a big impact on energy costs.

A majestic Victorian villa might win you over with its character, but older homes often require significant upgrades to become energy efficient, which can mean extra cost and effort. On the other hand, a modern new-build is more likely to come with energy-saving features already installed. The average energy efficiency rating of homes built between 1900 and 1990 is D, but this rises to B for homes built after 2016.

Brian says: “Think about what kind of house suits your needs, as well as what kind of improvements you’d need to make to make it more energy efficient. If  a home you’re considering has a low energy efficiency rating, it’s important to consider if you’d be willing to make upgrades in future.”

Also, don’t forget that size matters. Larger homes typically cost more to heat, so keep that in mind when weighing up your options.

3. Look for damp and draughts

During your viewing, be sure to look closely at the walls, windows, and ceilings for signs of:

• Damp
• Mould
• Condensation
• Poor ventilation
• Excessive draughts

These issues aren’t just cosmetic, and they can hint at costly repairs down the road.

Brian notes: “These might indicate bigger problems that could be expensive to fix later. They’re also likely to contribute to higher energy costs and will make the property less comfortable to live in. In many cases, it’s advisable to sort problems with damp and mould before other energy saving measures like insulation can happen.”

Before you leave, ask about any relevant documents relating to the property’s upgrades or heating system, such as:

• Installation certificates
• Warranties
• Service records

4. Check the heating system

Heating is one of the biggest contributors to energy bills, so pay close attention to what’s in place. You could always ask:

• How old is the system?
• How effective is it?
• What are their typical energy bills?

Brian says: “More and more homes now have some form of low carbon system such as solar panels and maybe home battery storage, or even a heat pump. It’s important to understand how these might impact the day-to-day running of a home, as well as your potential energy costs. And it’s particularly important if you’re not familiar with these newer technologies.”

Read more about electric homes and how they work

5. Think about green upgrades

While you’re envisioning paint colours and furniture layouts, think about potential energy upgrades and things you might want to retrofit, too. It’s helpful to consider this early so you can budget accordingly.

Brian suggests: “The property’s EPC report is a great place to start. The report will already have some recommendations on what you can do to improve the property’s energy efficiency.”

And don’t forget, there are government schemes to help with costs:

• Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS): Funding for insulation and heating controls
• Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS): Get £7,500 towards the cost of a heat pump

Depending on your location and circumstances, additional financial support might also be available.

And after you’ve moved in…

Once you’ve got the keys, there are plenty of other things you can do to keep your home running as efficiently as possible. Here are Brian’s tips to start saving from day one:

• Find your energy supplier, locate your meter, and take a reading. Look into switching suppliers to see if you could save money on your energy bill
• Learn how to use your new heating system effectively. If the house has radiators, bleed them to ensure they work properly
• If you’re buying appliances, you could look at choosing energy-efficient ones
• Revisit your EPC report and home survey to plan major energy-saving improvements

And by making some simple changes, you can also avoid these 10 mistakes that could be adding £100s to your annual energy bill.

READ MORE: What’s the average UK energy bill?