The areas with the least energy efficient homes which cost the most to heat
Is YOUR city one of these 10 where houses leak the most heat? Areas with the most – and least – energy efficient properties are revealed
- Wales and the South West have some of the least energy efficient homes
- Meanwhile, London has newer, hotter properties, according to Uswitch
The Isles of Scilly have the most difficult houses to heat in England and Wales, while London houses are the easiest to keep warm.
This is evident from an analysis of 23 million energy performance certificates (EPCs), which measure how energy efficient a home is, by comparison company Uswitch.
The Isles of Scilly, off the coast of Cornwall, rank lowest because of their older-than-average homes, Uswitch said.
Single-pane windows, uninsulated walls and roofs, and electric room heating are common problems that drive up the cost of heating inefficient homes.
Not so hot: Station Road in the Welsh village of Trawsfynydd has some of the least energy efficient houses, according to Uswitch
Apartments and maisonettes are generally the most energy-efficient homes, with park homes and bungalows often losing more heat.
Newly built homes have a much better chance of a higher EPC rating due to good insulation and some even have solar panels and heat pumps pre-installed.
Uswitch’s ranking of 331 local authorities revealed that Wales is five of the ten local authorities with the least efficient housing.
| Local authority | number of residences |
|---|---|
| Isles of Scilly | 649 |
| Gwynedd | 32,068 |
| Ceredia | 20,915 |
| island of Anglesey | 19,706 |
| Shuttle | 24,383 |
| Eden | 16,134 |
| Carmarthenshire | 45.020 |
| West Devon | 14,674 |
| Southend on Sea | 47,650 |
| Powys | 35,276 |
| Source: Uswitch | |
Five of the country’s best-performing local authorities are in London, led by Tower Hamlets.
This is helped by the fact that new apartments are constantly being built in many parts of the capital, increasing the average score.
Natalie Mathie, energy expert at Uswitch.com, said: ‘The Isles of Scilly is a beautiful part of the UK, but unfortunately due to the older housing stock, residents lose a lot of heat through uninsulated walls and roofs.
‘Take a moment to look up your home’s EPC certificate online and see where your home can be improved – the reports are incredibly detailed and give you an estimate of the cost of all energy-saving measures.’
| Local authority | number of residences |
|---|---|
| Tower hamlets | 102,340 |
| City of London | 4,545 |
| Salford | 92.126 |
| Southwark | 86,598 |
| Cambridge | 36,738 |
| Green wich | 75,853 |
| hackney | 75,877 |
| Milton Keynes | 75.101 |
| Knowsley | 46,339 |
| Basingstoke and Deane | 43,195 |
| Source: Uswitch | |
How to insulate your home on a budget
Draft resistant – saved £60 a year
The charity Energy Saving Trust says the average UK home could save £60 a year in energy bills by draught-proofing windows and doors, or £50 a year in Northern Ireland.
The simplest form of draft protection is thick curtains, which keep out the cold coming from the windows. This costs between € 15 and € 50 per curtain.
Secondary glazing – savings vary
Secondary glazing is an extra sheet of plastic or other insulating material next to a single-pane window — a bit like cheap double-pane windows.
The Isles of Scilly, off the coast of Cornwall, have the lowest energy efficiency rating due to older-than-average homes, Uswitch said.
How to insulate your home on an average budget
Installing roof insulation – saved £640 a year
Someone living in a semi-detached house with no roof insulation could save £640 a year by fitting 270mm of insulation in their attic, according to the Energy Saving Trust.
Most roof insulation consists of large rolls of wool spun from basalt, a type of stone.
Prices vary, but £25 will buy you about 8-10 square meters of insulation. Insulating an entire loft may therefore cost a few hundred euros, but most homes earn that money back within 12 months if their energy bills drop.
Floor Insulation – Saved £110 a year
For houses with wooden floors, insulating your ground floor can reduce energy bills by more than £110 a year for the average home, or up to £180 for a detached house.
Those figures rise to £90 and £145 a year in Northern Ireland respectively, according to the Energy Saving Trust.
As with roof insulation, this involves lifting the floorboards and laying mineral wool insulation on top of the mesh between the joists. Depending on how big your house is, this could be up to £100.
But if you don’t feel like pulling up your floorboards, there’s an easier way to insulate your floors: carpets with a thick underlay, or failing that, rugs.