Improving the energy efficiency of your home
Making your home more energy efficient – sometimes known as ‘retrofitting’ – can help save money on your energy bills, reduce carbon emissions and tackle the Climate Emergency.
There are a variety of options for retrofitting your home, including many easy, low-cost solutions, and a range of financial support and grants available to help you.
Draught proofing
Draught proofing is a relatively cheap way of reducing heat loss and saving energy, with some draught proofing measures costing as little as £20. You can draught proof your chimney, windows, doors, floor boards and even your skirting boards.
Find out more information about draught proofing from the Energy Saving Trust.
Radiators and hot water tanks
Fitting reflective radiator panels can reduce heat loss by up to 50%, helping to keep your home warmer and reduce energy usage.
Insulating your hot water tank and pipes can also help reduce heat loss, making them cheaper to use, with insulation jackets costing as little as £15.
Wall, floor and loft insulation
Improving the insulation of your home can help reduce heat loss, saving energy and reducing your bills. Insulation improvements you might want to consider include cavity wall insulation, external or internal wall insulation, loft insulation and floor insulation. Find out more information about insulation measures from the Energy Saving Trust.
Boilers and heat pumps
Older boilers are less energy efficient and can lead to increased energy use. Upgrading your boiler can help reduce energy consumption. Find out more information from the Energy Saving Trust about upgrading your boiler.
You could also consider replace your boiler with a heat pump. Heat pumps recycle heat from the ground to heat your home. They are around three times more efficient than gas boilers, and therefore need less energy to produce heat.
Grants of up to £5,000 are available to homeowners for the purchase and installations of heat pumps through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. Find out more about the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and check if you are eligible.
Solar panels
Installing solar panels on your roof can enable you to generate your own renewable energy, reducing your energy costs. You even can get money back for any energy you don’t use!
Find out more information from the Energy Saving Trust about installing solar panels.
Find out more information about solar panels and planning permission.
We have partnered with the Mayor of London to support Solar Together London – an initiative which makes it cheaper and easier for residents to buy solar panels. Find out more about Solar Together in Lewisham.
Lighting
Energy efficient lighting helps lower electricity bills and reduce emissions, all without reducing the quality of light in our homes. If you replace all the bulbs in your home with LED lights, you could reduce your carbon emissions and your electricity consumption, helping to save money.
Find out more about how to improve the efficiency of the lighting in your home.
Windows and doors
Upgrading your windows, doors or glazing with more energy efficient ones can help reduce heat loss and energy use, as well as minimising noise and the risk of damp or condensation.
Secondary glazing is another great way of improving the energy efficiency of single-glazed windows. The existing windows are left in place and an additional pane of glass or Perspex is installed inside.
Get advice
You can get more advice about how to make your home more energy efficient from South East London Community Energy. Find out more about how South East London Community Energy can help retrofit your home.
Ecofurb can also work with you to develop a retrofit plan that is tailored to your home and to your financial needs. Find out more about Ecofurb’s retrofit service.
Get financial assistance
Low-income households living in properties with poor energy efficiency can apply to the Mayor of London’s Warmer Homes scheme for grants of up to £25,000 for draught proofing, heat pump installation, solar panels and insulation improvements. Check to see if you are eligible for the Mayor of London’s Warmer Homes scheme.
There are other funds available for households in London. Check out the Energy Advice London page for more information.