With energy efficiency making headlines in the private rental sector, Norton Finance has calculated the cost of an average mid-terrace household reducing carbon emissions by 12.5 tonnes per year.
The research also quantifies estimated cost savings - for tenants - after five years. Most improvements do not recover their capital cost after five years.
- Draught-proofing is one of the cheapest and most effective ways to save energy and money. DIY draught-proofing starts at under £3 for a roll of self-adhesive draught-excluding tape. Block up unwanted gaps around windows, doors and chimneys that let cold air in and warm air out. Doing this could save around £215 on fuel after 5 years.
What you’ll spend: £3
Saving after five years: £215
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- Roof insulation: Just like going out in cold weather without a hat, as much as a quarter of heat can be lost if your roof isn’t insulated. The loft of a mid-terrace house costs around £285 to insulate with 270mm insulation, saving you as much as £500 on bills after 5 years. You’ll also reduce your carbon footprint by about 530kg every year.
What you’ll spend: £285
Saving after five years: £500
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- Wall insulation: About a third of heat is lost from walls of uninsulated houses. The age of your home will usually determine the type of walls you have, and this in turn affects the cost of insulation. Solid walls let twice as much heat escape as cavity walls. While insulating solid walls can be more expensive, the savings on your heating bills will also be bigger. Insulating the walls of an average mid-terrace house costs under £400, with savings of just under £500 after 5 years, saving 415kg of carbon each year.
What you’ll spend: £400
Saving after five years: £500
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- Upgrade your boiler: Boilers are improving in energy efficiency all the time. If you haven’t had a new boiler in the last 10 years, replacing it with a newer model could cost around £2500, but you could save more than £850 on bills within 5 years if you’re in a mid-terrace house. Not only that, a new boiler will reduce your household’s carbon footprint by a whopping 1.92 tonnes of CO2 every year.
What you’ll spend: £2500
Saving after five years: £850
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- 20% of heat can be lost through standard windows. Invest in energy-efficient double-glazed windows to make savings of up to £850 in heating bills over 5 years, and 80kg of carbon per year. Plus, you’ll be sure to enjoy the peace and quiet that goes along with double glazing. Installation costs average out at around £4,250 for A-rated PVC windows in the average semi, compared to around £15,000 for A-rated hardwood windows. Double glazed windows can reduce the CO2 emissions of a typical household by three quarters of a tonne every year.
What you’ll spend: £4250
Saving after five years: £850
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- Install solar panels: These days, an average solar set-up will cost £4,800 all-in. But if you’re a householder who’s home all day, it’s estimated that a 3.5kW panel will save you £330 a year -that’s a staggering £1650 in 5 years. Not only that, but a typical solar panel also saves over 10.8 tonnes of CO2 per year. Most homes have upwards of 12 panels; that’s 10.8 tonnes of carbon saved every year, not to mention money paid back to you thanks to the smart export guarantee.
What you’ll spend: £4800
Saving after five years: £1650
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