Is your home more at risk? OVO data shows the impact of UK’s leaky homes - with British properties losing heat three times faster than houses in Norway or Germany

The UK has some of the oldest and leakiest homes in Europe - losing heat on average 3 times faster than homes in Norway or Germany. A fifth of our housing was built before 1919 with 34% built before 1964. Yet 8 in 10 (80%) of buildings in use today will still be inhabited by 2050.

OVO data shows that people who live in detached homes - whether a house or bungalow are even more at risk. They use more energy due to being larger properties, which cost more to heat, as well as having leaky, uninsulated homes. Compared to those living in a terraced flat, detached homes use almost twice as much energy, costing households an extra £812.85 on energy bills a year and requiring on average over 13,000 kWH of gas and over 3,200 kWH of electricity.

Terraced flats use the least energy costing an average of £1,230.70 a year, followed by:

• Terraced bungalows cost on average £1,338.23 a year
• Semi-detached maisonettes cost on average £1,431.55 a year
• Terraced houses cost on average £1,671.75 a year
• Detached bungalows cost on average £1,784.35 a year
• Detached houses cost on average £2,043.55

There are simple and cost effective measures to help bring down energy bills and make homes more energy efficient. Yet it is clear there is an urgent need for the government to provide additional support to retrofit housing. We need more financial support to address the upfront costs of retrofit, as well as a long-term plan on how we will tackle home upgrades across the UK to cut costs and carbon.

Cost effective methods to bring down energy bills and save money:

1. Loft insulation - Insulation is one of the best improvements you can make to lower your bills. It helps keep the heat in and the cold out, so whether it’s summer or winter, your home will be more comfortable. Loft insulation is often the easiest and most cost-effective place to start.
2. Low energy lightbulbs - An energy-saving bulb uses less electricity to give the same amount of light as a traditional bulb. Energy Saving Trust worked out that if you replaced all your bulbs with LED bulbs, you’d reduce your carbon emissions by up to 40kg a year. And for every 60 watt bulb in your home, you could save up to £7 per bulb, per year.
3. Boiler flow temperature - Reducing the boiler flow temperature on a combi boiler to 60°C can save households up to £65 per year. Running your boiler at a higher temperature will burn more gas than you need to heat your home, and will add to bills.
4. Draught proofing - This is one of the cheapest and most effective ways to save energy up to £125 per year. Getting rid of draughts and keeping warm air in will help you use less energy to heat your home. If you’re not sure where to start, we recommend speaking to OVO’s Energy Experts who can do a full room-by-room survey of your home and provide personalised advice.
5. Smart thermostats - These clever thermostats can help you control your heating and hot water from wherever you are. They can reduce the energy your heating uses by up to 31%, and even adapt to your local weather forecast. OVO customers can get a tado° smart thermostat for £120 (saving £79.99 on the RRP).
6. Tracking your energy - you can track your energy use for free in the OVO app. It’ll give you personalised insights and show you what’s using the most energy in your home, so you can find ways to use less. And it’ll tell you when the grid’s greenest, so you can work out the best time to put that big wash on. You can also set it to send us half-hourly reads, which means we can show you more detailed info about your energy use.
7. Thermostatic radiator valves - These clever little additions to your heating system let you control the temperature in each room. They sense the room's air temperature and adjust the flow of hot water until the room reaches the temperature you’re after. This could save an average household around £75 a year.
8. Bleeding your radiators - Bleeding your radiators helps them work more efficiently by releasing trapped air pockets. This allows warm water to circulate throughout the radiator, heating your home more effectively. Radiators with air pockets use more energy and waste money.
9. Switching off standby - Leaving products plugged in and on standby costs the average household £145 per year. Almost all electrical and electronic appliances can be turned off at the plug without interfering with their settings. You can also buy a standby saver, which lets you turn all your appliances off completely at once.

Read our data dashboard to find out more and book an Energy Expert visit today.