Dashly said the average EPC rating of UK homes was a D, which represents a score of 66. This could be increased to band B, or 84 points, with improvements.  

The Government states that homes should be improved to an EPC rating of C by 2035. 

Regional differences on emissions

The average cost to improve a home’s energy efficiency rises to £14,589 in London , where the average home has a score of 62 points and emissions are 4.07 CO2. 

Properties in Scotland have the highest emissions, Dashly found, at an average of 6.33 CO2. Improving this could see homeowners foot an £18,046 bill. 

Homes in the East Midlands and West Midlands have the lowest emissions, at an average of 3.49 CO2. On average, homeowners in these regions could pay £13,848 or £14,007 respectively to make their homes more efficient. 

Homeowners in the South West could face the lowest average cost of EPC improvements at £13,565. In this region, the average emissions per home are 3.64 CO2. 

Green mortgages need to be cheaper

Dashly said while there were mortgages to reward people living in efficient homes, more needed to be done to incentivise improvements. 

Martin Leonard, COO at Dashly, said: “We all need to step up and do our bit for the environment, but making these adjustments to your home can be costly. The mortgage industry needs to do its bit to ensure homeowners are aware of the existence and possibilities of green mortgages. Up until now, green mortgages have attracted very little attention, but cheaper borrowing rates in a difficult environment could help raise awareness of the benefits of energy efficient homes.  

“EPC ratings have a role to play, but the reality is that they mean very little to the average homeowner. People want to know how the rating impacts them in pounds and pence and what they can do about it.” 

He added: “In the coming months, as the need to save costs becomes even greater, we expect to see an increase in green mortgage products and lenders must continue to innovate to respond to this increased demand. Lenders and brokers should be offering green mortgages as standard by now. Those that do will offer their customers, and the planet, better outcomes.”