We’ve all heard about the importance of being energy efficient. Double glazing helps us to be more energy efficient for example, because it prevents more heat being lost from our home. Certain appliances are also more energy efficient than others, saving us money and being more environmentally friendly as a result.
So let’s find out more about the rating system that helps us to see how energy efficient something is.
What is the rating system?
The basic rating system used to gauge how energy efficient something is consists of seven bands. These are coloured from green to red so it is easy to tell at a glance where a particular item falls on the scale.
The smallest band is A. This appears at the top of the scale and is coloured green. If the appliance or item the rating appears on is marked as A, you know it is extremely efficient with energy. This in turn means it will cost you a lot less to run. The worst rating is G, which is indicated by a long red band at the bottom of the scale. This isn’t very efficient at all.
Is it just appliances that receive an energy efficient rating?
Not at all – homes can receive them too. For example let’s say your neighbour’s home still has the original single glazed windows, no insulation in the loft and an old boiler. In contrast yours has double glazing, loft insulation and an eco-friendly boiler.
If both properties were rated according to their energy efficient properties you can be sure yours would be far more efficient than that of your neighbour. The measures you have taken to ensure you keep more heat in your property and to use eco-friendly ways to heat your home will help you rate more highly.
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What about CO2 emissions?
There is a separate method in use for gauging how much CO2 is produced by any one property. This calculation is worked out by an expert. The rating system looks very similar to the one used for energy efficiency. The only difference is that it is highlighted in blue and grey, but once again A is the top standard to shoot for.
In practice most people will realise that there are a number of steps they can take to ensure they can make their home more energy efficient. Installing double glazing is a big step in the right direction. Not only will you benefit from better noise insulation you will also be assured of retaining more heat inside your property. This means you will not need to turn the heating up quite as much, because you won’t need to compensate for anything you lose.
It is worthwhile to become more familiar with the energy efficiency rating system so you can continue to make your property more efficient in the future. Not only will this save you money in the long run, it will also help you make the right decisions in every respect.