How do you lower your Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and both Energy and Environmental Ratings

GValue
GValue Forumite Posts: 49
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Are there any guaranteed simple ways to lower your Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating? (Energy and Environmental Ratings) 

I understand that replacing all lightbulbs with LED ones is one way?

Is replacing your gas boiler (and gas stove with an electric cooker), or heating with a heat pump system going to reduce it?

Is just turning off your gas and removing your gas meter going to reduce it?

Would heating your hot water by solar or battery help?


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  • GingerTim
    GingerTim Forumite Posts: 1,676
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    Decent insulation, if you haven't got it.
  • tetrarch
    tetrarch Forumite Posts: 206
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    LED's, Themostatic Heating Controls and Insulation seem to me to be the lowest cost improvers.

    Do you have a target in mind or just "better"

    Regards

    Tet

    Most recent EPC score "4" - yes four 
  • GValue
    GValue Forumite Posts: 49
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    edited 18 July at 10:31AM
    @tetrarch just lower and better:-) I wonder if gas removal would make a massive impact?
  • The_Green_Hornet
    The_Green_Hornet Forumite Posts: 1,297
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    Replacing a non-condensing boiler and installing solar panels would make the biggest improvement to an EPC score but obviously these aren't simple or cheap.
  • tetrarch
    tetrarch Forumite Posts: 206
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    edited 18 July at 11:02AM
    By lower, do you mean to lower the scores or alphabetically lower the rating?

    The best way to lower the score (from my experience) is to add an wood-burning stove and remove the central heating!

    Regards

    Tet
  • Gerry1
    Gerry1 Forumite Posts: 9,111
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    You want to lower your rating?  To G?
    You want to switch from gas to four-times-the-cost electricity?⁉️
  • p00hsticks
    p00hsticks Forumite Posts: 12,335
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    Is that all the report said ?
    I think when we last has one done it had a prioritised list of detailed improvements that coudl be made (e.g. use of low energy lightbulbs, increasing loft insulation by xx mm), the cost and what influence (if any) it would have on the rating. 
  • GValue
    GValue Forumite Posts: 49
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    @Gerry1 @tetrarch Sorry if its confunsing, lower the pollution and energy used and better (towards A) to minimise costs and environmental damage :-)
  • maisie_cat
    maisie_cat Forumite Posts: 1,999
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    According to our EPC we could get to an A if we install a wind turbine at a cost of £60k and dig up the foundation to install insulation.
    The cost effective solutions are low energy lighting, TRVs/controls on the heating and insulation.
  • GValue
    GValue Forumite Posts: 49
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    maisie_cat said:..

    "The cost effective solutions are low energy lighting, TRVs/controls on the heating and insulation."

    Ok, I've done LEDs, TRVs:-) and topped up insulation. :-)

    Currently I've an old non-condensing gas boiler, (that needs replacing), so is gas out and heatpumping the way to go?
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