Energy Saving

One of the main costs on farms and estates is energy in the form of heating and electricity. Reducing these costs can have a pronounced improvement on margins, so if changes can be made to improve energy-efficiency, this can have an immediate and long-term knock-on benefit in reduced overheads.

Not only that, any let buildings have required an “EPC” rating of E or higher under the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards since 2018, and the government is consulting on raising this to C or higher by 2030.

Public money in the form of the “Green Homes Grant” is available for home improvements to increase energy efficiency. This offers vouchers of up to £5,000 to cover around two thirds of the cost of items such as more energy efficient heating, cavity wall and loft insulation, double glazing and new energy-efficient doors.