The British could reduce their annual energy bills while reducing their carbon emissions and raising the price of their home, research has shown.
A WWF and ScottishPower study has found that installing green technologies could reduce energy bills by up to £ 1,878 a year and reduce household carbon emissions by more than 95% over a lifetime. useful of its installation.
Consumers are increasingly looking for options to reduce their growing long-term energy bills through options such as installing solar panels, improving insulation or buying air heat pumps.
Bills are expected to exceed £ 3,000 this winter as rising gas prices, partly caused by the invasion of Ukraine, are passed on to consumers. Analysts have warned that prices could remain high for years.
The report states that homeowners can increase the value of their property by an average of £ 10,000.
An analysis of 5 million home sales in England and Wales found that installing an air heat pump could increase the value of a home by between £ 5,000 and £ 8,000, the panels said. solar could increase it by between £ 1,350 and £ 5,400 and the charge on an electric vehicle. point could increase it by about £ 5,000.
According to the report, solar panels could increase household finances by £ 586 a year by saving electricity and selling surplus to the grid.
The Energy Saving Trust estimates that installing solar panels usually costs between £ 2,900 and £ 6,700, with heat pumps costing between £ 7,000 and £ 13,000 and electric vehicle charging points around £ 1,000.
The WWF and ScottishPower report said the switch to low-carbon technologies could also reduce a household’s carbon emissions from energy by up to 91 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, more than 95%, which it’s like taking 42 cars off the road.
About 20% of the UK’s carbon emissions come from households, with 15% more from cars.
Isabella O’Dowd, WWF-UK’s chief climate officer, said: “Accelerating the deployment of low-carbon technologies and energy efficiency is the best way to ensure the UK’s energy security, protecting homeowners from price of fossil fuels and protect the planet. ”
O’Dowd acknowledged that the initial costs of installing low-carbon technology would be a barrier for many homes.
He said: “We would like the government to put in place funding mechanisms to help people have more access to support in terms of reducing initial costs.” He also called for tax incentives for private homeowners to install them, as well as stronger consumer protection and advice.
Homes are eligible for a £ 5,000 grant to switch to low-carbon heating under the boiler upgrade plan, which was launched in April and will run until 2025.
The period required to save enough on energy bills to justify the initial installation costs varies between technologies: between 10 and 15 years for solar panels, one and three years for electric vehicles and 20 years for heat pumps. The figures also depend on the location and condition of the house.
The report showed that a detached house in the south of England with an old boiler and poor insulation currently faces annual energy bills of £ 2,816. In comparison, the same house with a heat pump, an electric vehicle charger, solar panels and a smart battery could pay £ 383.
Rob McGaughey, head of smart heating at ScottishPower, said: “Domestic installations of heat pumps, solar panels and electric vehicle chargers can help both move the country away from its dependence on fossil fuels and address the climate crisis “.