Page 20 - March 2024

IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

cosy house with low running costs. Overall, the Both sets of homeowners here were able
house has gone from an EPC rating of E to an to take advantage of Scottish Government
A, and the utility bills have dropped drastically. I interest-free loans for some of the works,
am moving to a bungalow with an EPC of G, and alongside the Renewable Heat Incentive grant
I am excited about making all the improvements for the ground source heat pump system. Home
to bring it up to an A as well. I feel I am trying to Energy Scotland (homeenergyscotland.org)
save the planet, one house at a time!” can advise on what support may be available
for homeowners looking to boost their green
While a conversion of this level isn’t viable for credentials.
every homeowner, there are plenty of more
affordable options to help lower your home’s “Understanding the cost benefits might
emissions, and in some instances, financial encourage many other homeowners to look at 1 West Braes
support too. Currently, the Future Homes Hub the changes they can make to make their own
suggests that upgrading a property’s eco status home more eco-friendly,” says Sarah. “Relying
could cost anything from £5,000 to £20,000 on renewable energy lowers operating costs, to your home’s fabric before adding renewable Architects, tells us: “Improvements like this need
depending on the scale and specification of the and from installing smart meters to adding extra technologies, as it helps to prevent potential to be considered holistically, to ensure they’re in
upgrades, although, as Sarah explains, the initial insulation, there are lots of things that you can issues developing and gets the most out of keeping with the age, style, and condition of the
expenditure could result in a higher property do, on any budget.” your retrofit. An assessment of your home will property. You also need to consider the location
value, especially as ‘climate-ready’ properties examine your energy usage and needs and will and status of your property; you will be incredibly
become more in demand: “Eco-friendly Marc Brammer is the Senior Retrofit Coordinator help to determine the right plans for your home limited in the changes that you can make, or the
improvements such as solar panels, wind at EcoCosi, from Scotland’s leading – it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. Generally, grants that you are eligible for, if your property
turbines, triple glazing and underfloor heating environmental charity, Changeworks. He advises we’d recommend adding insulation first, which is listed or falls under a conservation area, but
could increase your property’s value by around a ‘fabric first’ approach to retrofitting, as he will make your home more efficient, more there are simple changes you can make that
£13,000 per improvement.” explains to us: “We recommend making changes comfortable, and healthier to live in. After that, will make a significant difference. If you’re in
it’s important to look at ventilation, to prevent a traditional property, you can refurbish your
moisture becoming trapped in the house, which windows and add secondary glazing to retain
could lead to condensation and potentially, more heat; vacuum glazing is a popular choice.
mould or rot developing. As a third step, we’d Insulating your shutters and adding more
then look at decarbonising your heating system insulation to your roof are also simple ways to
and looking at renewables like solar panels. We enhance your home’s thermal efficiency.”
find that working through a retrofit in this way
ensures your home’s energy system is working If you’re not looking to undertake a large-scale
in harmony.” renovation yourself but love the idea of living in
a more sustainable property, there are currently
If retrofitting your home sounds appealing, but over 1,000 properties for sale on espc.com with
you live in one of the many historically important an EPC rating of A, B or C, offering maximum
homes across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and energy efficiency and lower running costs. You
Eco-friendly improvements such as the Borders, it can also be tricky to know what can search for a thermally efficient property by
solar panels, wind turbines, triple changes you’re permitted to make. Jo Parry- using ESPC’s search function to filter by EPC
Geddes, conservation-accredited architect, and
rating, meaning you can find your next dream
glazing and underfloor heating could Director of South Queensferry-based MILL home that gives back to the environment too.
increase your property’s value by
around £13,000 per improvement. Wester Happrew Steading and 1 West Braes are both available to view on espc.com

Sarah Millar-Urey, Blackwood & Smith To hear more about creating a thermally efficient home, listen to series one, episode six of
The ESPC Property Show, where guests including Jo Parry-Geddes dive into this ‘hot’ topic.

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