How Can UK Landlords Make their Properties More Energy Efficient?

The higher the levels of energy efficiency a residential property has, the less money its tenants are likely to spend on expenses like utilities. But adjustments that lead to efficient energy use are usually made by property owners/landlords, not tenants. This is why many prospective renters look specifically for the energy efficient features in tenanted properties. If you’re a landlord who looks out for your tenants and wants to ensure that your property remains attractive when you decide to sell your tenanted property, enhancing the energy efficiency status of your property has got to be a high priority for you. But how can landlords make their properties more energy efficient?

The Starting Point

The best starting point is with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). If you already have one, it may be time to consider an update. And of course this requires an assessment of the property’s energy performance conducted by a domestic energy assessor. Energy efficient upgrades like ___ should be determined based on the needs revealed by the EPC. And of course, if the property falls below the minimum standards required for the EPC, energy saving upgrades will be required.

Insulation

Insulation is one of the popular recommendations for making a home more energy efficient. This includes varying types of insulation such as loft insulation, solid wall insulation or cavity wall insulation. A well-insulated building will use less energy for heating and cooling purposes in the winter and summer.

Energy-Efficient Heating

An energy efficient heating system also ranks highly among those upgrades that can significantly improve the energy efficient status of a home. Installing an energy efficient boiler, can help to reduce the volume of energy consumed for heating purposes.

Eliminating Waste

Another great idea for landlords who wish to maximize the energy efficiency in their properties is draught proofing. This is essentially sealing the gaps and cracks through which cool or hot air can escape. This means that less energy will be required to keep the interior of the building cool or warm as the case may be.

Going Solar

The installation of solar panels is a great energy saving upgrade. Depending on its size and capacity, the energy produced by the solar panel can be used to support the lighting fixtures or even a few appliances, resulting in a significant dent in the energy bill.

Additional Upgrades

A few other upgrades that should help include installing energy efficient doors and windows, installing a smart meter and replacing lightbulbs with energy efficient options such as LED bulbs.

If funding is a concern for you, you should consider checking to see whether you or your property is eligible for a home energy grant as several of these are made available annually.