How to Reduce Energy Bills? – Where to Begin…

Reducing energy use is driven by many factors.  These range from the commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions, to the more straightforward financial drivers to reduce energy bills.  This includes the potential to offset energy bills fully to zero.

We are bombarded with information on the different approaches to reduce energy bills, in newspapers and the internet, also the very substantial grants that are available.  Despite this, for most people it is increasingly confusing trying to work out the best approach. 

Independent and Impartial Advice & Expertise

This is a technical and highly complex area.  Independent and Impartial Advice is essential, to select the most appropriate solution for your site / home. 

To give an example – if I go to a double-glazing salesperson, they will sell me double-glazing.  By the same token, if I approach a firm that supplies Solar Panels, this is very likely to be their recommendation.

Independent and Impartial advice helps to choose between the different ways in which to reduce energy usage and energy bills; to determine the best approach for your needs and property. 

Alternative Approaches: Below are some of the main alternatives with observations on each. 

Solar Panels and Battery solar photovoltaic panels that convert sunlight into electricity are one of the most common and current ways to reduce energy bills.  If this is the route for you, consider how much roof space you have, or land for larger properties.  [Batteries work well in conjunction with solar panels and even without solar, batteries can help to import cheaper electricity at off-peak times.]  Also consider likely pay-back periods and just as important, think about the effect of panels on the external look of your property or family home.

Ground Source Heat Pumps are growing in popularity, with grants of £7,500 available [January 2025] for installation of domestic heat pumps.  There are two main types of Ground Source Heat Pumps – a horizontal loop and deep bore.  The former installs pipes within a series of trenches around 1.5m below ground.  It needs more land than a deep bore but less specialist equipment.  Installing deep bore (to a depth of ~100m) requires specialist equipment for which access is needed.  Quotes can be obtained for either or both to assess the Costs against long term Savings in energy usage.

Air Source Heat Pumps are another alternative.  As with Ground Source Heat Pumps, SAP (Standard Assessment Procedure) is used to evaluate the energy performance of the property.  This provides a guide as to the size of system required.  Further considerations apply with all forms of heat pumps to ensure the pumps are compatible with existing pipework and radiators, with available space for the Heat Pump and associated electric storage battery.

Insulation and Building Materials Don’t of course overlook improving insulation and employing the right materials and other courses of action to impact on reducing energy usage at source.  We would always start with trying to reduce energy use at source but appreciate the process can be both disruptive and costly if you are only interested in the short-term gain.

Most important, is to always obtain the right Independent and Impartial advice.

Please do not be afraid to ask questions and discuss, whether you agree or disagree!

ep architects   

info@eparchitects.design