Home energy efficiency

Making your home more energy efficient has a variety of benefits. It will not only help to reduce your carbon footprint, which is a crucial step in helping to tackle the climate emergency, but it could save you hundreds of pounds on your energy bills and help you to keep a warmer, happier, healthier home.

Home energy efficiency is ranked by Energy Performance Certificates (EPC ratings) from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient). EPCs are available for homes that are either rented or have been sold in the past 10 years. You can quickly look up your homes EPC rating through the Government's EPC web page.

Approximately two thirds of Dacorum’s homes are below an EPC rating of C, which means that the majority could have improvements made to make them much more energy efficient. 

Advice and support

Hertfordshire Energy Advice Tool (HEAT) app

View of homescreen of the HEAT app, which asks the question Where do you want to start? and then invites the user to tap on a room to get going

We are the first council in the UK to partner with Energy Saving Trust to provide a free app to help Hertfordshire residents make energy savings.

The Hertfordshire Energy Advice Tool (HEAT) app gives a quick, virtual tour around a typical home, asking a range of questions. Based on the answers, simple, low or no-cost actions are suggested and a tailored advice report can be emailed, providing you with a summary of the potential energy and money savings.

The average saving from using the HEAT app is estimated to be £70 a year.

The HEAT app is free for Hertfordshire residents:

Download on Google Play

Download on Apple's App Store.

Quick wins for saving energy at home

The Energy Savings Trust and Uswitch have also outlined a wide range of quick and easy actions that you can take today to help make your home more energy efficient - whether it is turning your thermostat down a degree, getting LED lightbulbs or turning your appliances off at the wall rather than keeping on standby.

Our energy-saving advice leaflet also has quick tips for how you can be more energy efficient at home:  Energy Saving Leaflet (PDF 711KB).

You could save hundreds of pounds a year in energy bills by making some simple changes. Find out more on the MoneySavingExpert website.

Better Housing Better Health

  • Access to free, impartial advice
  • Routes to energy bill discounts
  • Grants and funding for energy efficiency measures
  • Measures such as insulation or new heating systems for qualifying private residents
  • Access to other support services.

Telephone: 0800 1070044
Email: bhbh@nef.org.uk 
Website: www.bhbh.org.uk

SuperHomes HERO Plan

SuperHomes: Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire is a free service to help homeowners understand how they can maximise the energy efficiency of their home. Homeowners can get a home survey, conducted by a qualified Retrofit Coordinator. You'll then be given a bespoke Home Energy Retrofit Options (HERO) Plan with independent advice on retrofit measures. Finally, you'll get a consultation with your Retrofit Coordinator to discuss your plan. 

The scheme is prioritising homes that are more difficult to retrofit and are 150 square metres or less in size. For example, listed buildings, those that are poorly insulated, in a conservation area or have solid walls. However, other homes will be considered, so please still get in touch.

There are a limited number of HERO Plans available. Find out more and register your interest now.

Grants and funding

Home Upgrade Grant: Phase 2

The Home Upgrade Grant (HUG2) is a new Government grant scheme. It funds energy-saving upgrades for residents with off-gas heating systems. Find out more and see if you qualify.

Great British Insulation Scheme

You may be able to get free or cheaper insulation to reduce your home’s energy bills. You can apply for support from the Great British Insulation Scheme if your home:

You can be a homeowner, landlord or tenant (either renting privately or from a housing association). If you’re a tenant, speak to your landlord before you apply. You’ll need their permission before any insulation can be installed.

Solar Together Hertfordshire

Solar Together Hertfordshire is an innovative new scheme offering high-quality solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and battery storage. It is a group-buying scheme, which brings Hertfordshire households together to get high-quality solar panels at a competitive price, helping you through the process and keeping you informed at every stage. Find out more about the scheme.

ECO funding

The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) is a Government scheme to help reduce carbon emissions and tackle fuel poverty. Under ECO, energy suppliers fund the installation of energy-efficiency measures in British homes. The obligated energy suppliers work with installers to introduce certain efficiency measures into your home, such as loft or wall insulation, or heating measures.

What improvements can I get?

If you meet certain criteria, you could be eligible for low-cost or free home energy efficiency improvements, such as:

  • Loft insulation
  • Cavity wall insulation
  • Under floor insulation
  • Room in roof insulation
  • External wall insulation

Am I eligible?

You may be able to receive ECO Flex funding towards home energy efficiency if you meet the eligibility criteria in our ECO Flex Statement of Intent (see below). In most cases, you need to own the property or be renting privately, the household income should be less than £31,000 per year and the property should have an Energy Performance Certificate rated E to G.

Past copies of this information can be found here: 

Minimum energy efficiency standards for the private rented sector

Since April 2020, all tenancies must have a minimum Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) energy rating of E under the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015. The minimum standard is set to increase to an EPC energy rating of D by 2025 and C by 2030.

A home is required to have an EPC rating when it is constructed, sold or let. This is an example of an EPC. If you are letting a property, check the EPC rating in case you need to make improvements.

The Government website provides landlords with guidance on complying with the regulations.

Our grants page has more information about additional funding that may be available to you.

Staying safe from rogue traders

Don't fall foul of rogue traders pretending to be working with us on home improvement schemes.

Whether you’re upgrading your home through a Government scheme or with your own funds, follow the advice below to stay safe:

Expand all

  • Check our website
    Research and check our website to ensure we are supporting the scheme. Some households may be eligible for home upgrade work under Government schemes. Approved companies will contact you directly. In partnership with ourselves, they will offer a building survey and check for eligibility.
  • Research the company

    Look up any company information on websites and review sites. Try to get a referral from a friend or local site and make sure you read any small print so you’re clear on what you’re buying. Make sure you have a contract and make staged payments. Use a credit card if possible, so you have some protection if things go wrong.

  • Take your time

    If you are being pressured to make a decision or are not able to take your time to consider the proposal, then walk away. It’s most likely a scam.

Home Energy Conservation Act progress report

The report provides an update on progress made since April 2019 and outlines our plans from April 2021 until March 2023.

Contact us

Email: climate.action@dacorum.gov.uk
Telephone: 01442 228000

Page Last Updated: Monday, 19 August 2024 at 04:06 PM