My sustainable home

Home energy improvement guide

Surrey County Council has created the Home Energy Improvement Guide which offers detailed and practical advice on appropriate retrofit measures for three common Surrey house types and how to arrange for their installation, from simple cost-effective upgrades to full-scale retrofits.

Other advice on reducing energy consumption

Smart energy saving tips to save money (Gov.uk) are part of the Government's Help for Households campaign:

• Turning your combi boiler flow temperature down to 60 °C could save you up to £100 a year
• Turning down radiators in rooms you aren’t using or use less could save you up to £70 a year
• Turning appliances off at the socket could save you up to £70 a year
• Washing clothes at a lower temperature could save you up to £40 a year 
• Using your tumble dryer less could save you £70 a year
• Closing all your curtains and blinds at night
• Track your energy usage using an app
• New free phone service from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: 0800 098 7950 for tailored and impartial information on how to improve the energy performance of your home

Energy saving advice from other organisations

• Ask Action Surrey for advice on how to reduce your energy consumption and save money. Available online or call 0800 783 2503.
• Surrey Energy Advice - answer questions using this tool to get recommendations for financial support and measures to improve energy efficiency in your home. 
• Find ways to save energy in your home (Gov.uk website) - answer online questions to get recommendations specifically for your property or call 0800 444 202. 
• Energy Saving Trust – Energy at Home

Book your free home energy survey from a local group

Book your free survey from Energy Action Redhill and Reigate who are conducting individual energy efficiency surveys of homes across the whole borough.

You'll get thermal images of your home showing where heat is leaking, tailor-made advice, packs of energy efficiency materials and signposting to current funding schemes.

Funding schemes for energy efficiency improvements

Great British Insulation Scheme

Find out more about the Great British Insulation Scheme and check if you are eligible for money towards insulation 

Boiler Upgrade Scheme

The government is providing £7,500 for homeowners to replace gas boilers with low carbon heating systems, such as air source heat pumps (see below for more information). This grant would cover most of the cost and installation of a heat pump. Getting off gas helps you to reduce your greenhouse emissions because electricity (which heat pumps use) can be produced by renewable energy. Find out more about the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and check availability here (Gov.UK)

Home Upgrade Grant - for off gas grid properties

Off gas grid properties can apply for a range of insulation and low carbon heating grants. Contact Action Surrey (0800 783 2503) to check eligibility which will either be around certain postcodes or income.

Other Government schemes

• Energy Company Obligation – an obligation for energy companies to install energy-efficiency measures in homes
• Warm Home Discount – some people may be able to get a reduction in their electricity bill between September and March 

OFGEM, the Government department for gas and electricity, has a list of available schemes. 

Renewable energy

On-site renewable energy generation

If you’re a homeowner, you may be able to invest in generating renewable energy or renewable heat for your home. This could include solar panels, air or ground source heat pumps, solar heating and a whole range of other technologies. Some of the schemes mentioned above could help finance this.

• Visit the Energy Saving Trust website for more information.

Renewable energy suppliers - a green tariff

If you can't generate your own renewable energy, you could still opt for an energy supplier that provides a green tariff. A green tariff allows you to choose an energy company that buys its energy from renewable sources.

While you can’t choose what mix of energy arrives at your home, you can choose an energy company that encourages the UK to make a shift to cleaner energy for all.

• Check Energy Saving Trust's advice here for more information on switching supplier.
• Visit the 'Big Clean Switch’ for help to compare suppliers and look at the savings you might make.

Heat pumps

Heat pumps are more efficient if you have a well-insulated home or produce your own electricity with solar PV. Your Energy Performance Certificate should be checked for outstanding insulation recommendations.

If saving money is your goal, bear in mind that gas is currently cheaper than electricity, so discuss this with your certified installer (see below).

• This is an informative article Heat pumps: How do they work, and how do I get one? - BBC News website
• Visit a Heat Pump is a scheme run by Nesta the innovation agency for social good. You can see an air source heat pump working in person and learn more about what it’s like to have one from the people who know best.

Accredited suppliers

We cannot recommend particular suppliers but you can search for local certified suppliers for:

• MCS certified installers - low carbon energy installers for solar PV, heat pumps, biomass, wind and battery storage. MCS stands for Microgeneration Certification Scheme.
• Get a new energy certificate (Gov.uk website) - search for local accredited energy assessors. This may be for getting a new Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for your home or for general energy assessment. Do start with Action Surrey though.