EU legislation means that from 2012 all homes for sale will require an energy efficiency rating to be carried out upfront

This article is more than 10 years old

This article is more than 10 years old

EU legislation will make it compulsory for energy efficiency ratings to be published in all UK homes for sale advertisements from 2012.

At the moment homeowners are required to commission an energy performance certificate (EPC) before putting a property on the market, but the results may not be available when potential purchasers first view it. From 2012 the EU Directive will make it compulsory for the ratings to be published upfront giving buyers vital "green" information.

The legislation will effectively put a green, amber or red energy efficiency grading on every For Sale board in the UK. It will also help the government to deliver its ambitious plans of reducing household carbon emissions by 29% by 2020.

Non-profit energy supplier Ebico is urging potential house sellers to start making their homes more energy efficient sooner rather than later. Founder, Phil Levermore, said: "There has never been a better time. Not only could it make a property more saleable in the future, but people will also reap rewards from lower energy bills and a warmer, more comfortable home in the meantime."

The government's proposed "green deal" scheme, to be detailed this autumn, is expected to offer loans of up to £6,500 for home energy efficiency improvements repayable, over 20 years or more, out of savings on fuel bills.

The Energy Saving Trust recently said that the majority of the UK's least energy-efficient homes could be brought up to near-average green standards for less than £3,000; older homes needing major modernisation, including a new central heating system, would need at least £5,000 to bring them into line

Ebico, along with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the Energy Saving Trust, recommend the following energy efficiency home improvements, some of which can be carried out by homeowners at a relatively low cost (prices are based on a three-bed semi-detached house):

• Protect hot water pipes with insulating material to reduce the amount of heat that escapes. This will cost about £10 and save approximately £10 a year.

• Insulate the loft with blankets known as quilts. This is a simple DIY job that costs about £250 and can rake in savings of up to £150 a year.

• Seal badly fitting doors and windows with draught-proofing strips or draught excluders. This can cost up to £200 and save up to £25 a year.

• Change your boiler to a high efficiency condensing boiler. These convert 86% or more of their fuel into heat, compared to 65% for old G-rated boilers. Although the boiler and insulation could cost approximately £2,500 it could reap annual savings of £235 a year.

• Install thermostatic valves on radiators. This will cost about £150 and save about £30 a year.