Which green features do homes with high EPC ratings have?

We know the future of our homes is greener. But which features really boost a property’s energy-efficiency score?

The difference between a low and a high Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating could mean mega-savings on energy bills each year.

Your home’s energy rating looks like the sticker you might find on a fridge or a washing machine, and ranges from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient). The government aims to get as many homes as possible up to an EPC rating of C by 2035, and there are lots of changes you can make to older properties to achieve a rating of C.

So, what do homes with high EPC ratings look like, and what sort of features have been installed? We’ve taken a closer look at properties with green credentials for sale, from new-builds showcasing the latest eco-friendly tech, to older homes that have boosted their EPC score with eco-friendly improvements, including triple glazing and solar panels.

Check them out.

A ‘sustainable’ new-build development, London
EPC rating: A

These new-build homes in Walthamstow Village, east London, and have been built to be carbon negative, with zero construction waste and net energy positive — which means residents will benefit from very low energy bills, or none at all.

The homes are fully electric and fully powered by the PV solar panels on the roof. Inside the walls have been made from compressed earth brick walls, the worktops are made from wood shavings from the timber frame, and even the lampshades are made from the site’s soil.

A contempoary countryside house close to the sea
EPC rating: A

This contemporary four-bedroom house sits in four acres of grounds. It’s close to the market town of Holsworthy, and is just nine miles from the seaside town of Bude.

Built to align with Passivhaus standards, the home has low running costs thanks to a Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) system, a HeatStream water tank, solar panels, and aluminium triple-glazed windows.

The East London ‘Passivhaus’
EPC rating: A

This four-bedroom home was built in June 2019 and is close to East London’s Olympic park. It’s ‘Passivhaus’ certified, meaning it’s almost totally energy self-sufficient, saving thousands on annual energy bills.

Fourteen photovoltaics (PV) panels on the roof gather the sun’s energy and turn it into electricity, while a Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) system produces higher quality air. Stale air is expelled by one pump, but the heat is retained and is used to warm fresh, filtered air drawn in by a second pump. The windows are all triple glazed, and there’s an electric car charging point, too.

A new-build New York loft-style conversion
EPC rating: B

This new-build house sits on the bank of the river Foss in the city of York, and has been built to mimic a period industrial building, with a New York loft-style interior.

The home’s EPC rating is currently a B, although it has potential to achieve an A. Energy-efficient features include aluminium windows for optimal thermal insulation and laminated glazing. The tiled cinema room also has Crittall-effect aluminium French doors and polished concrete floors with underfloor heating.

A green award-winning 19th-century cottage
EPC rating: C

Remember, age is just a number. And it’s not just new homes that can have eco-friendly features.

As long as there are no restrictions on your property, such as the building being listed, you might be permitted to make certain green enhancements to an older home. This two-bedroom house in the waterside village of Heybridge Basin, Essex, was built around 1860, and has won a sustainability award.

Some of the features that have boosted this home’s EPC rating include an air-sourced heat pump, and both the house and the detached office are well insulated.

The header image for this article was provided courtesy of Colwills, Bude.

READ MORE: Find out how to check your home’s EPC rating