The WORST energy efficiency ratings in England – is yours on the list?

As energy prices are set to soar 54 percent in April, new research reveals which areas of England have the poorest energy efficiency.

The Isles of Scilly in Cornwall have the poorest energy efficiency in England, with just 10.9 percent of homes boasting a ‘good’ EPC rating of C or above. In comparison, the UK’s most energy efficient area – Tower Hamlets – has 74.5 percent of homes with an EPC rating of C or above.

The research, by heating experts Boiler Central, used new ONS data to analyse the energy efficiency ratings of 309 local authorities in England to discover which areas have the lowest and highest percentages of homes with an EPC rating of C or above. Households with EPC ratings of A-C are considered to have good energy efficiency, while households rated D-G have poor energy efficiency, with G being the worst.  

Castle Point in Essex has England’s second poorest energy efficiency. In Castle Point, just 21.4 percent of homes have an EPC rating of C or above, compared with the England average of 41 percent.

Staffordshire Moorlands in Staffordshire has England’s third worst energy efficiency. In Staffordshire Moorlands, only 25.2 percent of homes have an EPC rating of C and above.

Pendle in Lancashire has some of the fewest homes with good energy ratings, with just 26.2 percent of homes with an EPC rating of C and above. Blackpool, Burnley, and Hyndburn in Lancashire also have poor energy efficiency. 

At the other end of the scale, the borough of Tower Hamlets in London boasts the highest percentage of homes with good energy ratings. In Tower Hamlets, nearly three quarters (74.5 percent) of homes have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to the England average of 41 percent.

Newham in London has England’s second best energy efficiency, with 65.3 percent of homes in Newham boasting an EPC rating of C or above. Hackney, Southwark and the City of London also fared well with 63.7 61.9 and 59.7 percentage of homes in those areas with good EPC ratings respectively.  

Myles Robinson, a spokesperson for Boiler Central, commented on the findings:  

“Energy bills are already sky-high and with bills soaring by a predicted £600 in Spring, it is those homes which are least energy efficient which will suffer the most from rising bills, as escaping heat will mean that your heating system works harder to compensate for the lack of warmth, costing you more.  

The government is advocating heat pumps as a solution to soaring energy bills, but these will not be effective without proper floor insulation – which 65 percent of homes in the UK currently lack. While households can use some hacks to insulate their homes better, for example, buying inexpensive pipe insulation from a DIY store, unless something serious is done about the energy crisis, we will see many more households driven into poverty.  

Although the government is introducing an ‘Energy Bills Rebate’ where energy customers will have £200 knocked off their bills, this functions as more of a ‘loan’ or a ‘buy now pay later scheme’, according to Moneysavingexpert Martin Lewis, who points out that families will have to pay back the loan in equal installments of £40 a year.  

Some energy suppliers offer hardship funds, where you can get up to £750 off your energy bills if you are living in fuel poverty, so if you are struggling, it’s worth checking if your supplier offers this”  

 To find out more visit the Boiler Central website