The growing demand for energy-efficient properties is more than just a trend; it’s a necessity. Yet, shockingly, more than 56% of homes in England have below-average energy efficiency, with a score of D on their EPC assessments.
Besides being a significant and valuable contribution to the environment, energy-efficient measures help you save money and boost your property’s value. According to the UK house price index, in September 2024, the average house price in England stood at £309,000, with A and B-rated homes attracting 3 to 4% more. Comparably, a D-banded home may end up being sold at up to £23,000 off the asking price.
In Essex, according to a comparative study by Plumplot, the average rating for homes in Essex is 64.9, D rating, only slightly lower than the average rating for all homes across England and Wales (65.1).
In this blog, we’re exploring the towns in Essex that rank highly when it comes to property energy efficiency, discussing exactly what makes a home energy efficient.
What Is an Energy-Efficient Home?
An energy-efficient home uses and wastes less energy, without compromising on comfort and functionality. If your home is energy-efficient, it should have certain features in place, including:
- High-Quality Thermal Insulation: Proper and high-quality insulation material should be used in your property’s walls, ceilings, and floors to keep heat in during winter and out during summer.
- Energy-Efficient Installations: All your appliances should feature UK energy rating labels, rating their efficiency from A to G. The closer your appliances’ energy ratings are to A, the more efficient they’ll perform.
- LED Lights and Fixtures: LED lighting fixtures use significantly less energy, up to 90%, than traditional incandescent bulbs and also last longer.
- Using Smart Control Systems: Including programmable thermostats and advanced HVAC systems in your home lets you adjust the heating and cooling based on occupancy and time, thereby optimising your energy use.
- Installing Renewable Energy Sources: If you use solar power or other renewable energy sources to generate electricity and heat water, this is another mark of energy efficiency, helping reduce your dependency on fossil fuels.
- Robust Construction: You’ll be able to better retain heat and avoid drafts if your home was built with construction techniques like air sealing.
These ideas for energy-efficient smart homes take this approach a notch higher by incorporating net-zero design principles, meaning they produce as much energy as they consume over a year.
If you’re serious about energy efficiency (and saving money!), you’ll want to use multiple solar panels to maintain the energy efficiency of your home all year round while generating energy back.
How Essex’s Towns Are Ranking High on Energy Efficiency
Energy Performance Certificates, or EPCs, gauge how energy efficient the UK’s residential and commercial properties are, through an assessment that assigns ratings from A (highly efficient) to G (least efficient).
As of June 2023, just over half of homes in Essex (62.9%) had an EPC rating of D or higher. Chelmsford, Colchester and Brentwood are three towns in Essex that emerged as the best in terms of energy-efficient properties.
Chelmsford is dubbed Essex’s Green Capital as it’s home to new developments that have high-ranking energy ratings. Chelmsford’s local council pushes multiple initiatives to promote sustainability, including improving access to public transport to lower the local carbon footprint.
Many of Colchester’s new builds use smart home technologies and renewable energy resources. The town is also focusing on addressing issues with older properties with energy-efficient retrofitting measures.
Home to high-end properties with energy-saving features, Brentwood takes third place in the list of Essex’s top energy-saving towns. A strong community involvement in sustainability projects has played a key role in making this town a leader in energy efficiency.
If you need an EPC in Brentwood, Colchester or Chelmsford, contact us.
Schemes and Ideas for Energy-Efficient Homes
If your home has lower-than-average energy efficiency ratings, this translates to higher-than-necessary energy bills and drafty winters, as well as increasing your carbon footprint.
With this in mind, the Essex County Council has launched two attractive schemes to help low-income households and vulnerable families lower their carbon emissions and energy costs.
Essex residents have greatly benefited from ECO4 Flex and the Great British Insulation Scheme Flex (GBIS). These schemes have the following eligibility:
- Homeowners and tenants, with permission from landlords
- Those with household income below £31,000
- Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) between D and G
- Residents with a property tax band between A and D
Those eligible for these schemes can apply to receive solar panels, heat pumps, and other energy-efficient measures to significantly improve their EPC ratings.
How Gio Property Solutions Helps Essex Residents
An EPC assessment not only highlights your property’s rating but also helps you understand what this rating could be if you upgraded certain features or made amendments. You can only access these personalised insights from certified assessors like Mark at Gio Property Solutions.
With our team of leading EPC, air tightness, and retrofit assessors, Gio Property Solutions offers reliable and professional services to help Essex residents improve their property’s energy efficiency. Our recommendations are based on years of experience and expertise in this field, with services catering to both residential and commercial properties.
Learn more about how you can maximise our services to create energy-efficient properties. Contact us on 07510 060 669 or mark@giopropertysolutions.co.uk with your requirements.
