Home Energy Efficiency

The Vale of Glamorgan Council supports Welsh Government's aim to tackle fuel poverty and poor energy efficiency in homes.

Homes that are energy inefficient (with an Energy Performance Rating below a C) will be harder to keep warm, have higher energy bills, and pump more CO2 into the atmosphere compared with their more efficient neighbours.

Improving your home’s energy efficiency through insulation and renewable energy technologies can deliver a variety of benefits to you as well as our planet.

Benefits to you:

Significantly reduce heat loss
Reduce your energy bills
Keep you warm in winter, and cool in summer
Lower your carbon footprint
Improve your property's Energy Performance Rating (EPC) making it more attractive to buyers
Improve the comfort of your home and prevent damp

Simple ways to use less energy and save on your energy bills:

Turn your thermostat down 1 degree
Switch the lights off in the rooms you don't utilise and use energy saving bulbs
Don't leave things on stand-by
Only fill and boil the kettle with the water you need
Use washing machines and dryers to full capacity unless you have half load settings
Don't leave taps dripping, especially hot water taps
Close doors to keep heat in rooms

For more energy saving tips, go to Help for Households Campaign

Keeping warm is vital, particularly for older people at home. Age UK recommends layering up and keeping active at home and the Vale of Glamorgan Council has developed a Warm Spaces Scheme with a network of inviting warm community spaces bringing people together this winter at no cost. What's more, the Council is also providing useful information and advice on Cost of Living Support.

Measures that can be put in place to help you stay warm at home and lower your energy bills:

Insulating your roof, floor and walls
Draught-proofing windows and doors
Upgrading your heating system to an energy efficient boiler or a heat pump
Installing double or triple glazing
Using renewable sources of energy, such as solar power
Check the EPC rating for your home or have one carried out to get personalised recommendations
Ask your energy provider to fit a SMART meter to help you manage your energy usage and costs

Project Zero

Project Zero is the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s response to the Climate Change Emergency. It brings together the wide range of work and opportunities available to tackle climate change, reduce the Council’s carbon emissions to net zero by 2030 and encourage others to make positive changes to support Project Zero at home.

Welsh Government Warm Homes Nest scheme

The Welsh Government Warm Homes Nest scheme has changed. From 1 April 2024, the scheme has a greater focus on low carbon technologies for the home, to support Welsh Government's ambition to make Wales net zero by 2050. We offer all households in Wales free, impartial advice on saving energy and water, income maximisation, and lowering your carbon footprint. If eligible, we also provide a tailored package of free home energy efficiency improvements such as insulation, a heat pump, solar panels, or central heating.

Call freephone 0808 808 2244 or visit the website gov.wales/nest

ECO4 Scheme (Energy Company Obligation including ECO4 Flex)

ECO4 is the latest Energy Company Obligation scheme administered by OFGEM. The Vale of Glamorgan Council is working in partnership with Cardiff Capital Region and E.ON to support households in poorly insulated homes, making those households more energy efficient and helping lessen the impact of rising energy bills.

This Statement of Intent sets out the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s flexible eligibility criteria for ECO4 Flex from 19 May 2023 to the end of March 2026.

For further information: EC04 E.ON Information Document

Letting a property?

If you are letting a property, you should be aware of the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (srs.wales) for Landlords.

Additional advice on how to raise EPC standards for a property is available online. Find ways to save energy in your home - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).