British Gas research reveals Brits are confused about energy efficiency

07 December 2023

British Gas

Media Relations

New research has found that 74% of Brits find it difficult to tell how much energy they are wasting in the home
To help, energy efficiency expert shares top tips to improve energy use
British Gas is also supporting with Home Health Check that gives Brits access to experts who can shed light on where they are losing heat in the home and provide personalised plans to help save money on energy bills

With the cold months setting in, new research from British Gas reveals confusion amongst Brits in tackling energy efficiency in the home. Less than half of Brits (42%) think their home is energy efficient and a whopping three quarters (74%) said they found it difficult to tell just how much energy they’re wasting in their home.

With the UK having one of the oldest housing stocks in Europe*, it’s fitting that homeowners are looking for ways to improve their energy efficiency while saving money and reducing their bills. The survey revealed that 65 per cent of Brits would find it useful to have a professional visit their home to do an in-person survey to tell them how to improve its efficiency.

Phil Clamp from Greenwich said, “We’ve recently moved from a flat to a three-bed terrace house which seems to lose heat really quickly. With a young child, we’re more conscious than ever to ensure the house remains warm, but it can be hard to understand if we’re heating our home as effectively as we should be and don’t really know where we can go to turn for advice.”

Appetite for improvements

The average Brit has spent almost £3,000 making their home more energy efficient to date - with new windows, thicker curtains, and insulated walls the most popular methods.

Other much favoured bill-reducing home improvements include new loft insulation, draught excluders, and new doors.

But there are also smaller steps to take, with some making their property more sustainable more cheaply by bleeding radiators and sealing gaps around doorframes and windows.

Gail Parker, Low Carbon Homes Director at British Gas, which offers the Home Health Check that gives expert personalised advice to help save energy and money on bills, said: "Our homes are as unique as the people who live in them which is why it’s important to receive personalised advice that will make a worthwhile difference.

“Energy efficiency home improvements come in a whole range of sizes, from things like insulation, heat pumps and solar panels, to ensuring radiators aren’t covered and are bled, and gaps are sealed around doorframes and windows. The first step is a Home Health Check that can help you determine which solution is best for you and your home’s needs and where improvements are identified, we’ll guide you to the government grants that may be available to support.”

Saving money on heating (76 per cent), keeping the home warm in the winter months (66 per cent) and being comfortable in their property (56 per cent) are the main reasons people want to make sure their home is energy efficient.

Efficiency watchouts

There is confusion amongst Brits as to how energy efficient their homes are. More than half (51 per cent) of those who live in detached houses think their homes are the most energy efficient despite ONS data show that they are in fact amongst the least efficient in the UK. However, new builds – between 0 and five years old – were correctly considered the most efficient.

When it comes to rooms, the kitchen was voted as the least efficient room, closely followed by the lounge and hallway.

Understanding on where heat loss happens was high. Many believe heat escapes most from around the door frame (31 per cent), through the roof (31 per cent) and via the vent in the bathroom (17 per cent) which are all common areas seen by British Gas experts.

Gail Parker for British Gas added: “It’s understandable that now winter is here that people want to take steps to conserve heat in their home – no matter the age of the house or flat.

“However, it can be hard to tell the efficiency of your home and its heating system without professional advice. With our Home Health Check, surveyors will give you a personalised plan on how to make it more efficient, to help you save money on your winter energy bills.”

BRITS TOP 10 MOST POPULAR ENERGY SAVING METHODS