Energy efficiency in council homes

We have carried out substantial improvements to council homes to increase energy efficiency in our properties.

Council houses in Sheffield have an energy rating of 71 compared with the national average of 46.

Energy Performance Certificates

Surveys

All council houses have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), which gives you:

• information about a property’s energy use and typical energy costs
• recommendations about how to reduce energy use and save money

It provides an energy rating from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient) and is valid for 10 years. Legally we must provide an EPC to all new tenants or those applying for the right to buy their council home if the property doesn’t have a current EPC.

We have our own team of Domestic Energy Assessors to carry out the surveys, which take around 45 minutes to complete. There is no cost for this to tenants or potential buyers.

Although we are not obliged to implement EPC recommendations and can’t respond to properties individually, we use the survey information to identify homes most in need of energy efficiency work and plan programmes to improve those properties.

How we have helped make homes energy efficient

Sheffield council houses have an average energy rating of 73 (C), which compares favourably to the national average of 60 (D). 

We are committed to providing the most energy efficient homes we can, helping to reduce fuel poverty and save our tenants money.

Improvement work carried out under the Decent Homes programme addressed some frequent recommendations flagged up in EPC reports, such as new windows, upgraded heating systems and insulation work.

Your Green Decent Home might include:

• new or topped up loft insulation – saving £180 to £220 a year
• energy saving lightbulbs (each saves £9 and 40kg of CO2 yearly)
• UPVC double glazed windows and doors – saving £80 to £100 a year and 0.66 tonnes of CO2
• cavity wall insulation – saving £90 a year
• a bathroom with shower, low volume toilet and low flow taps
• a new, energy-efficient boiler, saving around £275 a year

Advice on making your home efficient

For advice on how to reduce your energy bills visit Simple Energy Advice or get tips to improve energy efficiency from GOV.UK.