People living in energy-inefficient homes could face an extra £299 on their annual energy bills this year, costing households across the UK a total of £3.8billion, according to new research.
A study by economics consultancy Cebr, commissioned by Kingfisher (owner of B&Q and Screwfix), examined properties with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating below C.
It revealed that older generations are disproportionately affected, with 60% of over-65s living in inefficient homes. This group faces an average increase of £256 in annual energy costs compared to under-30s at current rates.
The research also highlighted that over-65s spend the largest proportion of their income on energy bills, underscoring the financial strain on retirees.
In contrast, younger generations appear more proactive in tackling the issue. A survey of 3,000 adults found 83% of 18 to 34-year-olds plan to invest in energy efficiency improvements within the next five years, making them the most likely age group to prioritise home upgrades.
Thierry Garnier, Kingfisher CEO, said: “Too many UK households are still paying higher bills due to energy-inefficient homes, especially those who can least afford it. Yet the vast majority of people aren’t aware of their home’s inefficiency, or the extra bills they’re incurring.
“While our research highlights how upfront costs can be a barrier to action, there are plenty of low-cost DIY improvements that can lead to significant savings, and it’s promising to see younger generations eager to make upgrades.”
Young adults are focusing on cost-effective energy efficiency measures, with 61% planning to install smart electricity or gas meters, 58% opting for smart thermostats, and 53% considering temperature control valves for radiators.
However, they are less willing to adjust their lifestyles to save energy. Over half (52%) of 18 to 34-year-olds admit they would prefer to pay higher energy bills than compromise on comfort, while nearly 45% report turning on the heating “whenever they feel like it,” according to figures from OnePoll.
The biggest barrier to improving energy efficiency for all adults polled is upfront costs, with 40% saying they are too high and 20% concerned that the payback period is too long.
There are high levels of concern across all age groups about energy bills this winter as 71% of Britons say they are worried, and 77% have become more conscious of saving energy as a result.
Thierry Garnier added: “The Government’s goal to boost efficiency in five million homes by 2030 is a strong start. While there is no silver bullet, we believe three key policies would accelerate this effort.
“First, a focused initiative by winter 2025 to insulate the over five million uninsulated lofts across the UK. Longer term, we must empower and incentivise consumers with improved grants for low-income households and easy, consumer-focused solutions for those who are more able to pay.
“Finally, robust support for trade careers is critical to building a skilled workforce capable of delivering technical upgrades at scale.”
In the face of rising energy costs, a Nottinghamshire couple transformed the energy efficiency of their home – proving that savvy upgrades can make a significant impact on your bills.
DIY enthusiasts, Zoë and Daniel, bought their fixer-upper home in 2019 and moved in just before the first COVID-19 lockdown.
Zoë said: “When we moved in, we said we’d never scrimp on heating, and we’d never scrimp on food. But obviously, the less we could spend on energy, the better.”
The first steps of their renovation were modest yet effective. They replaced all the lighting in the house with energy-saving LED bulbs – an easy change that immediately cut their electricity usage.
Then came a slightly more ambitious project of upgrading the insulation in the eaves of their roof. The pair also installed smart thermostats in each room, allowing them to heat specific areas as needed. This feature proved invaluable for Zoë, who works part-time from home and can now focus heating on her workspace without wasting energy elsewhere.
She said: “We were also finding our son’s room was getting much colder than ours, particularly at night.”
Working within a budget, the couple prioritised cost-effective solutions. Their insulation project cost around £400 and the smart thermostats £300.
For Daniel, much of the transformation was a hands-on learning experience. He said: “YouTube is a game-changer. I have my own channel where I restore classic cars and from that have learned that if you don’t know how to do something, chances are someone else has a video showing you how.”
