How to improve your home's energy efficiency
An efficient home shows up in your bills and in your comfort. Here is which upgrades tend to pay back best, what improves your energy rating and where to start if you don't want to overspend.
Published on · Housia
Improving your home's energy efficiency isn't just about lower electricity and gas bills. It also means a more comfortable home (no drafts or cold walls), a healthier one, and often one that is more attractive if you sell or rent it out. And, as we've seen, there is support that can help pay for it.
The key is to go in the right order: first reduce demand (so the house loses less energy), then improve the equipment that heats, cools and powers it.
First: stop the energy escaping
- Insulation: usually the upgrade with the biggest impact. Loft or attic insulation is often the cheapest place to start; walls (cavity wall or solid wall insulation in the UK, wall cavities in the US) and floors come next.
- Windows: double or triple glazing with good frames cuts heat loss and noise.
- Air sealing and draft-proofing: small gaps around doors, windows, pipes and vents add up to more than you'd think, and fixing them is usually inexpensive.
Then: efficient equipment
- Heat pumps: air-source or ground-source heat pumps can provide heating, hot water and, in many cases, cooling far more efficiently than an old boiler or furnace.
- Solar panels: they lower your electricity bill; the payback depends on your consumption, roof orientation and local energy prices.
- Thermostats and controls: smart thermostats, zoning and well-set controls help you use what you already have more efficiently. Look for the ENERGY STAR label on equipment in the US.
What improves your energy rating?
- In the UK, homes have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) with a rating from A (most efficient) to G. It matters when you sell or let your home, and minimum standards apply to rented properties.
- In the US, there's no single national rating, but a professional energy audit or a Home Energy Score gives you a clear picture of where your home stands and what to improve.
In both cases, insulation and windows usually move the needle the most, while switching to a heat pump or adding renewables helps you go further. If your goal is a better rating (for a grant, a sale or a rental), it's worth working out first which combination of upgrades gets you there at the lowest cost. An official assessment is always carried out by a qualified assessor or auditor.
Where to start
If your budget is limited, prioritize what cuts the most demand per pound or dollar spent: usually insulation, air sealing and windows before new equipment. A professional assessment helps you see which upgrades make the most difference in your particular home.
If you're also changing the layout or extending, think about efficiency at the same time: the position of windows, orientation and insulation are much easier and cheaper to get right during the design stage than afterwards.
For guidance only. Check the current rules and conditions where you live before deciding.
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Plan your home's improvements →Frequently asked questions
What saves more, solar panels or insulation?
It depends on your home, but as a rule insulation reduces demand (you need less energy to begin with), while solar panels produce cheaper energy. The efficient approach is usually to insulate first and add renewables afterwards.
How do I find out my home's energy rating?
In the UK, check whether your home already has an EPC on the official register; if not, an accredited domestic energy assessor can produce one. In the US, ask your utility or a certified energy auditor about an energy audit or a Home Energy Score, which shows where you start and what would improve it.