How your EPC rating affects energy bills
An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rates your home from A (most energy efficient) to G (least efficient). Your EPC rating is based on features such as insulation, heating, glazing and the building itself, rather than your actual household energy usage. An EPC can help you understand your home’s energy efficiency and identify improvements that could reduce heating costs.
How EPC ratings translate to bills
- A or B: Typically associated with lower annual energy costs, although actual bills vary with your home, tariff and energy usage.
- C: Generally more energy efficient than lower EPC bands, with lower expected running costs than a similar property rated D or below.
- D: A common rating for UK homes, although recent data shows the median EPC rating is C in England and D in Wales.
- E, F or G: Lower energy efficiency ratings can indicate higher heating requirements and greater potential for energy-efficiency improvements.
Top 5 improvements by impact
- Loft insulation to 270mm: Increasing loft insulation to around 270mm can reduce heat loss and improve your home’s energy efficiency. Energy Saving Trust recommends topping up existing insulation to at least this level where appropriate. Grant support may also be available depending on your circumstances.
- Cavity wall insulation: Insulating suitable cavity walls can reduce heat loss and improve energy efficiency. Eligibility and suitability depend on the construction and condition of the property.
- Double glazing: Replacing single-glazed windows with more efficient glazing can reduce heat loss and improve your home’s energy performance, although the EPC improvement and financial return will vary by property.
- Upgrade your heating system: Replacing an old, inefficient heating system with a modern efficient system can improve your EPC rating and reduce energy use, depending on the property and system installed.
- Solar panels: Solar PV can improve a home’s EPC score in some cases and generate renewable electricity, potentially reducing grid electricity use. However, there is no guarantee that solar panels will move a property up by exactly one EPC band; the impact depends on the existing EPC, property characteristics and the solar system installed.
