Energy & EPC

What is an EPC Improvement Recommendation, and Which Ones Are Worth Doing

Every Energy Performance Certificate includes a list of recommended improvements with estimated costs and energy savings. Understanding which recommendations genuinely improve your EPC rating and reduce bills helps you prioritise spending wisely.

Published: 25 Feb 2026 · Updated: 16 Mar 2026 · 7 min read

#EPCRating#EnergyEfficiency#HomeImprovement#Retrofit#PropertyPassportUK

What is an EPC Improvement Recommendation?

Every Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) produced for a property in England and Wales includes not only a current energy rating but also a list of recommended improvements. These recommendations are generated using the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) methodology, which calculates the property's energy performance based on its construction, heating systems, and insulation.

Each recommendation includes a description of the improvement, estimated installation cost, estimated annual energy saving, the indicative improvement to the EPC rating, and a payback period indicator.

How Recommendations Are Ranked

EPC recommendations are typically presented in three groups:

1. **Lower cost measures**, relatively inexpensive improvements with faster payback periods (draught-proofing, low-energy lighting, hot water tank insulation)

2. **Higher cost measures**, more significant works with greater impact (cavity wall insulation, loft insulation upgrade, boiler replacement)

3. **Further measures**, improvements that only become cost-effective after higher cost measures have been implemented (solar photovoltaic panels, air source heat pumps)

The grouping reflects a logical sequencing: improve the building fabric before upgrading the heating system.

Which Recommendations Deliver the Most Rating Points?

**Loft Insulation:** One of the highest-impact and lowest-cost measures for unimproved properties. Upgrading to the recommended depth (270mm of mineral wool) can gain multiple EPC rating points.

**Cavity Wall Insulation:** For properties built between approximately 1920 and 1995 with unfilled cavity walls, this can deliver substantial improvements to both EPC rating and real-world energy use.

**Solid Wall Insulation:** Properties with solid walls (Victorian and Edwardian houses) cannot benefit from cavity wall insulation. External or internal solid wall insulation is more expensive but often the most impactful measure available.

**Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Panels:** Can have a significant positive effect on the EPC rating because the SAP methodology credits on-site renewable generation, which can push a property up one or more bands.

Measure	Typical Cost Range	Rating Impact	Suitable For
Loft insulation (top-up)	£300 – £600	High	Most houses with accessible loft
Cavity wall insulation	£400 – £800	High	1920s–1990s cavity-wall construction
Solid wall insulation	£5,000 – £20,000+	Very high	Pre-1920s solid-walled properties
Boiler replacement (gas A-rated)	£2,000 – £4,000	Moderate	Properties on gas grid
Solar PV (4kWp system)	£5,000 – £8,000	High	South/SW/SE-facing roofs

EPC Ratings and Mortgage Products

Some mortgage lenders now offer preferential rates ("green mortgages") to properties with higher EPC ratings, typically band A or B. As minimum energy efficiency standards for the private rented sector are expected to be tightened, higher EPC ratings also have implications for landlords and investors.

EPC certificates for properties in England and Wales are publicly accessible. Property Passport UK aggregates EPC data alongside other property information, allowing owners and buyers to quickly review current ratings and improvement recommendations. Always ensure improvement work is carried out by a qualified installer and that certificates and warranties are retained, these are increasingly important to buyers and their solicitors.