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Save on your energy bills with home improvements that suit you
Having a customer-led Ethical Policy means we’re always looking for ways to help our customers, and the things that matter to them the most.
So we’ve worked with Energy Saving Trust (EST) to bring you a tool for creating a personalised Energy Saving Improvement Plan. You can use it to help save on your energy costs by updating and renovating your property, making it more energy efficient.
How this tool works and its benefits
To use this tool powered by Energy Saving Trust to create your personalised Energy Saving Improvement Plan, all you need to do is answer a few questions about your property.
The more information you have ready, the quicker this will be. But don’t worry - the tool will automatically use suggested answers for you, based on what we know about the area you live in that can help you select the most accurate answer possible. There’s also plenty of guidance provided for each question, in case you need it.
The tool will then estimate your property’s:
- Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating
- Energy costs
- CO2 emissions
- Potential options for updates and renovations, in addition to the cost saving benefits.
You can set the amount you might be willing to spend on any improvements to help find the best options for you.
After you’ve answered the questions and provided all the information asked for, you should then know how to:
How to create your plan
Before you start using the tool, here’s what you’ll need, how to use the tool, and what your Energy Saving Improvement Plan will look like at the end.
Get any paperwork and bills for your property ready, to help you answer the questions from the tool.
Begin using the Energy Saving Improvement Tool where you’ll be asked to enter details about your property, such as its postcode, type of roofing, what boiler it features, and other questions of this nature. This should take approximately 10 minutes to complete.
Once you’ve completed the questions and entered any additional information, such as exact energy bill costs, your Energy Saving Improvement Plan will be generated and ready for you to download. You'll be given a unique code so you can access and update your plan at any time.
Ready to get started?
Great. Before you begin using the Energy Saving Improvement Tool, here’s a list of what you may need in order to complete the questions as quickly and easily as possible and receive the most options as part of your plan:
- Your property’s EPC report or deeds
If you don’t have a copy of your property’s EPC report and you’re the home owner, the property’s deeds will also feature some of the relevant information - Your recent energy bills
You can add these costs in as additional information, after you’ve answered the questions, to receive more options and suggestions as part of your plan - Have a look around and do some research on your property
If you don’t have your EPC report or the deeds to the property, or you’ve just made recent renovations to your property that might not be reflected as part of these documents; do a little research on your property and take a look around. The more you know about your property, for example things like the brick type and loft insulation, the quicker it will be to complete the questions.
Visit Energy Saving Trust
To start using the Energy Saving Improvement Tool, please confirm you understand:
- Energy Saving Trust is an external company to The Co-operative Bank.
You'll now leave the Co-operative Bank website and go to the Energy Saving Trust
Tips: how to save energy at home
Making changes at home to save money might be easier than you’d think. Using our Energy Saving Home Improvement Tool powered by Energy Saving Trust will give you a personalised plan, but here are some general tips on how to save on your energy bills through your property.
Insulation
There are several great ways to insulate your home and keep the warm air in and the cool air out, such as:
- Double glazing – also helps reduce noise you can hear from outside your home
- Draught insulation – also helps reduce damp and condensation in your home
- Cavity wall insulation – you could need this if your home was built after the 1920s
- Solid wall insulation – you could benefit if your home was built before the 1920s
- Loft insulation – you could potentially install this yourself.
You may be able to claim a grant for insulation by asking your energy supplier about the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme.
Smart thermostat
A smart thermostat can help you use your energy more efficiently. It will analyse how and when you use energy, and learn the best way to heat your home while using the least amount of energy possible.
Boiler upgrade
Depending on how old your boiler is, it might a good time for you to upgrade to a new more energy efficient boiler. A new boiler can be expensive, but could also save you hundreds of pounds each year.
Solar panels
You might be surprised how much energy you can get from the sun – even in Britain.
Installing solar panels can be an expensive option, but they create energy to lower your energy bills. If you create more energy than you need, you can even sell the spare to energy companies.
Ground source heat pumps
These pumps are less well-known than our other tips, but they’re a great way to create your own energy and potentially make money back from the Government’s Renewable Heat Incentive scheme.
When you install these pumps, they're buried in your garden and will absorb heat from the ground, turning it into energy.
Energy-saving lighting
One of the easiest ways to save money is to replace any older lightbulbs with energy-efficient lightbulbs. Each incandescent lightbulb you change could save you approximately £7 a year – which quickly adds up if you switch them all.
Borrowing options
We have borrowing options available if you need help finding the right finance for making improvements to your property, or if you’re looking to buy a property to renovate into a more energy efficient home.
Credit Cards
We have a range of credit cards available to suit your needs. They offer you a way to make flexible payments, all with the UK’s original ethical bank.
Loans
Learn more about loans and discover our alternative borrowing options.
Mortgages
We have a range of mortgage products available, so you can find the right fit for you – whether you’re thinking of applying for your first mortgage, or looking to switch to us.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up with repayments on your mortgage
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