Britain’s hottest residence enhancements to save cash on payments – full record

A survey of 2,000 adults who are responsible for paying the bills revealed that 63% have invested in energy-efficient home improvements, with a quarter doing so in the last year. The average household estimates this has resulted in an annual saving of £283.90.

The main reasons for these upgrades were to reduce energy bills (49%), make their homes more sustainable (36%), and increase property value (23%).

The most common home improvements included draught proofing, boiler upgrades, and insulation. In 2023, 3.3 million smart meters were installed in British homes.

The research, commissioned by Smart Energy GB, found that besides saving on energy, the average bill payer believes they have increased their house value by an average of £2,934.60 through certain improvements.

Smart Energy GB has partnered with property website Rightmove to disclose this data. The data suggests that improving a home’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating from F to C could boost its value by up to 15% – which for the average home equates to an additional £55,848.

Rightmove’s property expert, Tim Bannister, commented: “We know upfront costs are the biggest barrier to people making green improvements in their home, especially when it can take time to see the return on investment and lower bills.”

“Our analysis shows that there’s a green price premium on top of the local house price growth when people sell homes that they’ve been able to make green improvements to, and in the coming years a home’s energy efficiency rating is likely to become an even bigger factor when choosing a home to buy or rent.”

The research revealed that exactly three quarters would take into account the EPC rating of a property when looking to purchase, compared to only 38% who would have done so ten years ago.

It also showed that the average adult responsible for household bills would be prepared to fork out an extra £6,360 for a home fitted with sustainable features, according to data from OnePoll.com. Meanwhile, 26% believe that making home upgrades to enhance energy efficiency now takes precedence over aesthetic ones.

Victoria Bacon, director at Smart Energy GB, commented: “Smart home investments can be very good for the bank balance in the long run, but not all upgrades have to break the bank.”

“Smart meters are installed free of charge by your energy supplier and are a tool that more and more Brits are utilising to help them find ways to cut down their energy use day to day, which can have a significant positive impact on energy bills over time. They also provide access to reward schemes which offer discounts on energy bills for reducing energy use at certain times.”

The study also found that 36% have made eco-friendly upgrades to their homes to make them more sustainable and energy efficient for future generations (31%).

Meanwhile, 62% admitted they think more about the environmental impact of their home’s energy usage than they did a decade ago. The survey also revealed that 23% of respondents plan to implement certain green changes to their homes this year.

Steph McGovern, broadcaster and consumer finance expert, commented: “I know first-hand how difficult it can be to decide the best way to future-proof a home and make smart investments. But with so many options out there, it’s reassuring to know that you don’t have to spend a huge amount of money to add value to a property and save on energy bills.”

Smart Energy GB has teamed up with MoneyMagpie to offer advice for those looking to make energy-efficient upgrades to their homes:.

1. Solar panels, which cost between £4k-£6k and are excellent for improving your property’s EPC rating, can generate 2,600 kWh of energy annually. With the potential savings on energy bills, solar panels could pay for themselves in around seven years.
2. Installing A-rated or A++ double glazing could save you £135-£235 annually, reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 405kg, and enhance the EPC rating of your property.
3. Before making any costly investments, it’s wise to shop around and get several quotes from local tradespeople to see what each can offer.
4. Thermal curtains are a great way to prevent heat loss. You can even DIY by attaching a PVC shower curtain to your existing ones and sewing some lining over the top.
5. Installing a smart meter can provide better financial control and access to energy reward schemes.