In March 2020, the BBC Shared Data unit reported that nearly two thirds of UK homes fail to meet long-term energy efficiency targets.
We used data from the domestic EPC register (Energy Performance Certificates) to find the percentage of homes in each local authority area in the UK that were rated D-G. Government targets had set out to ensure all homes in England and Wales were C grade or above by 2035.
This found:
- Nearly two-thirds of homes registered are rated D-G for energy efficiency and fail the government target of C grade or above, around 12 million properties across the UK.
- Homes in Yorkshire and the Humber and Wales were among the most inefficient, with 67% of the domestic properties registered rated D-G.
- According to the register, homeowners in England and Wales could save an average of around £250 a year on household bills for heating, lighting and water if their homes underwent improvements.
Register data for Northern Ireland was not freely available and was obtained on request.
This piece of content was produced by a regional newspaper reporter working alongside BBC staff.
- Energy Efficiency of Homes data
- Open data on Energy Performance Certificates
- Central Heating Data for England, Scotland and Wales accessed via InFuse: selecting Geography > England LA’s, Scotland LA’s, Wales LA’s. Then: Central heating, Accommodation Type, Tenure (codes 6988 and 7008) and downloaded. Filename should be Data_ACCTYP_TCENHHH_TENURE_UNIT
- Central heating data for NI downloaded using same method and source returned codes (314863, 314866)
- Bar chart: Millions of homes below energy efficiency targets (by nation in the UK)
- Bar chart: Local authorities with the highest emissions
The Shared Data Unit makes data journalism available to news organisations across the media industry, as part of a partnership between the BBC and the News Media Association. Stories generated by the partnership included:
- Daventry Express: Thousands of homes across Northamptonshire fall below energy efficiency targets...and homeowners could be saving hundreds of pounds 2 March 2020
- Hereford Times: Huge sums wasted by inefficient Herefordshire homes 2 March 2020
- ITV: The energy-efficient homes helping to tackle climate change in the region 2 March 2020
- Northamptonshire Telegraph Thousands of homes across Northamptonshire fall below energy efficiency targets...and homeowners could be saving hundreds of pounds 2 March 2020
- Milton Keynes Citizen: Thousands of homes across Milton Keynes fall below energy efficiency targets...and homeowners could save hundreds of pounds 2 March 2020
- MKFM: Nearly half of homeowners in Milton Keynes could be losing HUNDREDS due to failed energy savings 2 March 2020
- Bedford Today: Thousands of homes across Bedford fall below energy efficiency targets...and homeowners could be saving hundreds of pounds 2 March 2020
- Luton Today: Thousands of homes across Luton fall below energy efficiency targets...and homeowners could be saving hundreds of pounds 2 March 2020
- The Bucks Herald: Thousands of homes across Aylesbury Vale fall below energy efficiency targets...and homeowners could be saving hundreds of pounds 2 March 2020
- Hemel Today: Thousands of homes across Dacorum fall below energy efficiency targets...and homeowners could be saving hundreds of pounds 2 March 2020
- Banbury Guardian: Thousands of homes across Oxfordshire fall below energy efficiency targets...and homeowners could be saving hundreds of pounds 2 March 2020
- Rochdale Online: How energy efficient are homes in the borough of Rochdale? 2 March 2020
- Swindon Advertiser: Burning money: too many homes cost too much to heat 2 March 2020
- 24housing: Two thirds of homes in UK ‘fail’ on energy efficiency targets 2 March 2020
- Lynn News: Most West Norfolk homes do not meet energy efficiency targets 3 March 2020
- T3.com: Two-thirds of UK homes have higher energy costs than they should - but you can reduce your bills 3 March 2020
- West Bridgford Wire: How energy efficient are Nottinghamshire homes? – see data by local authority area 4 March 2020
- The Inverness Courier: More needs to be done to make Highland properties more energy efficient 8 March 2020
- Harrogate Advertiser: Two thirds of Harrogate homes fall below government’s energy efficiency target 13 March 2020
- The Scarborough News: Two thirds of Scarborough and Whitby homes fall below government’s energy efficiency target 13 March 2020
- Daily Express: One in four UK homeowners plans to make their house more energy efficient, research finds 13 March 2020
- Daily Star: Over 12 million UK homes fail energy efficient performance standards 13 March 2020
- Stray FM: Harrogate is one of the most expensive areas in the country for utility bills, new data from Save on Energy has revealed 2 April 2020
The story was also used by BBC Inside Out West Midlands, BBC Inside Out East Midlands, BBC Inside Out South East, BBC Radio Shropshire, BBC Somerset, BBC Radio Cornwall, BBC WM and BBC Radio Norfolk.