Whether it’s to lower your energy bills or to reduce your carbon footprint, most of us are thinking about how we can make greener choices at home in Newborough. Energy use and how much carbon a home emits are measured in each property’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), ranked in bandings from A to G.
How much are energy bills right now?
Our latest analysis of properties that have recently been listed for sale and to rent shows that the greener a home is, the lower the average annual energy bill will be. For instance, the average monthly energy bill for a 3-bed semi-detached house with an energy efficiency rating D is around £156, or £1,871 annually. If you’re curious, you can take a look at our energy bill tracker to see what you might pay based on your EPC rating and property type.
| Property type | EPC rating B | EPC rating C | EPC rating D | EPC rating E | EPC rating F | EPC rating G |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-bed flat | £602 | £914 | £1,464 | £2,195 | £4,164 | £8,163 |
| 2-bed flat | £873 | £1,271 | £1,893 | £2,791 | £4,688 | £6,919 |
These calculations are an average only, and are based on information from over 350,000 EPCs created from January to March 2024, across each property size and EPC bands B-G. A-rated properties have been excluded from the calculations due to low volumes.
Where can I check the average energy bill for a property?
Within a home’s Energy Performance Certificate, you’ll find an estimated annual bill for heating, lighting, and hot water. It’s a calculation based on the property’s condition at the time of the assessment. For example, if older single-glazed windows have been replaced with new double glazing since the certificate was created, this wouldn’t be factored in until a new certificate was produced. You’ll usually find a list of recommended home improvements within the certificate, too, including how many points they’d likely add to your energy efficiency score and how much you could expect to save on your bills.
How much energy a household uses will vary based on lifestyle, the number of people living there, and how energy efficient your property is to begin with.
Why do homes with higher EPC ratings have lower average energy bills?
A greener home is one that is more energy efficient to run, meaning it uses less energy to perform the same tasks as a more inefficient home. Homes with lower energy-efficiency ratings will require much more power to keep them warm and well-lit, which is why they have higher energy bills and higher carbon emissions on average.
Many homes in the UK were built decades or even hundreds of years ago with older materials and technology, which is why the average UK rating is a D. Making changes to make your home greener can not only save you money on bills but also reduce the amount of carbon dioxide that a home emits.
Currently, Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures show that around a quarter (26%) of UK greenhouse gas emissions come from our homes.
How can I save money on my energy bills?
There are lots of small things you can do to help reduce your energy usage at home. Doing them all at once can result in a significant reduction in your energy bills. Changes that come at no or low cost can make a noticeable difference in the long term. These include adjusting your combi-boiler flow temperature, closing curtains and blinds, or applying for a smart meter if you don’t have one already.
Read more about how to reduce your energy usage. Additionally, there are other energy-saving improvements to consider, such as getting a smart thermostat or checking whether your home could benefit from improved insulation.
Is there any support in place to help with energy bills?
Due to the sharp rise in energy bills through 2022 and 2023, the government made financial support available to all households. While this same level of support is no longer in place, certain groups may be eligible for government support with energy bills. Find out more about some of the grants and schemes available to households.
How can I make my home more energy efficient?
If you’re considering making bigger changes to make your home greener, retrofitting might be an option. This includes adding solar panels, triple glazing, insulation, or converting to a heat pump. These changes are often the suggested improvements you’ll find on an energy performance certificate. Investing in them could also raise your home’s energy rating.
While costs continue to be a barrier to households making these changes, the initial costs can be outweighed by the long-term benefits, which include:
- A lower carbon footprint: Decarbonising your home’s heat source or reducing its reliance on fossil fuel heating will reduce your home’s emissions.
- Reduced energy usage: Our energy-saving guides detail the cost of making changes and the savings you can expect to see on your bills.
- A ‘green premium’ that could increase your home’s value: Our analysis shows that sellers who’ve improved their EPC rating from F up to a C could see an average house price increase of almost £56,000, on top of local house price growth.
There are grants and schemes in place, such as the Great British Insulation Scheme and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which can help with a portion of the cost of green improvements.
When will energy bills come down?
For the period from April to June 2024, the energy price cap fell by 12% compared to the previous quarter, to £1,690. In May 2024, it was announced that the price cap would fall by another £122 for the period July to September 2024.
According to Cornwall Insights – an organisation that predicts what will happen to energy bills – energy prices could start to rise again later in the year. The next price cap update is due to be announced at the end of August 2024.
However, future price cap forecasts could change because the price of wholesale gas can be affected by global events, impacting the energy market.
Frequently Asked Questions: Your queries about energy usage and costs answered
What does a unit of energy cost right now?
The wholesale price of gas can vary, meaning the underlying costs energy suppliers need to cover can change. To prevent companies from passing on large price rises to consumers – particularly the kind of hikes we’ve seen in recent years – the energy price cap is in place. The cap is set by energy regulator Ofgem, an independent organisation that works to ensure energy customers are treated fairly.
The price cap amount considers any increases in wholesale prices proportionately. The figures in the table below show the maximum amount energy companies can charge customers per unit for the length of time the price cap is in place.
| Jan-Mar 2024 | Apr-Jun 2024 | Jul-Sep 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Gas: 7p per kWh | Gas: 6p per kWh | Gas: 5p per kWh |
| Electricity: 29p per kWh | Electricity: 25p per kWh | Electricity: 22p per kWh |
Source: Ofgem. Based on average rates for direct debit users, which vary by region.
What’s the energy price cap and how will it affect what I pay?
The energy price cap was set up in 2019 to limit the effects of rising energy costs on households. From April to June 2024, the price cap has fallen by £238, taking the average bill for a household with typical energy usage to £1,690. In May 2024, it was announced that the cap would fall by a further £122 for the period from July to September 2024 (£1,568), taking average energy bills to their lowest level since mid-2022.
The regulator Ofgem sets the price cap, and it’s reviewed every three months. The dates of upcoming price cap announcements and the periods the updated price cap will cover are:
- 1 October to 31 December 2024 level, announced by 27 August 2024
- 1 January to 31 March 2025, announced by 25 November 2024
- 1 April 2025 to 30 June 2025 announced by 25 February 2025
How much power does a typical household use?
Ofgem has outlined how much power you might expect to use based on the size of your property and the number of people living in it. Energy is calculated in kilowatt hours, often called ‘units,’ and it’s estimated that a typical household in England, Scotland, and Wales will use around 2,700 kWh of electricity and 11,500 kWh of gas each year. Right now, gas is significantly cheaper than electricity per unit. Typically, gas will account for around 80% of a home’s energy usage, largely due to households’ current reliance on gas boilers.
| Typical energy usage (property type and size) | Average annual electricity consumption | Average annual gas consumption |
|---|---|---|
| Low (flat or 1-bedroom house/1-2 people) | 1,800 kWh | 7,500 kWh |
| Medium (3-bedroom house/2-3 people) | 2,700 kWh | 11,500 kWh |
| High (5-bedroom house/4-5 people) | 4,100 kWh | 17,000 kWh |
Source: Ofgem
To give you an idea of how different appliances contribute to your overall consumption, here are the amounts of power you can expect each of these common household appliances to use, on average:
- A 100-watt light bulb uses 1 kWh for every 10 hours of use
- A fridge-freezer uses 1 kWh for every 26 hours of use
- An electric oven uses 1 kWh for every 15 minutes of use
- A tumble dryer uses 4.5 kWh per cycle
For more detailed information and guidance on energy efficiency and ways to potentially value my home in Newborough, explore our extensive resources and tools. Discover how even improvements like a 2 bathroom setup can impact your home’s energy efficiency and overall value.