Energy efficient products for rental properties

With an eye on the new ‘Green Deal’ – the Government initiative to revolutionise the energy efficiency of British properties – UK Landlord looks at the growing range of options for making rental properties more energy efficient and therefore more appealing to prospective tenants.

The Coalition Government is committed to establishing a framework to enable private companies to offer consumers energy efficiency improvements to their homes, community spaces and businesses at no upfront cost, and to recoup payments through a charge in instalments on the energy bill. While the intricacies of this Green Deal are still being worked out, the onset of winter and dramatically rising fuel bills may be focusing the minds of many landlords looking to provide tenants with a warm and fuel-efficient living space.

One straightforward and economic way of making a property warmer during the winter is to install energy-efficient glazing. This keeps your property warmer and quieter as well as reducing energy bills. Secondary glazing, which involves a secondary pane of glass and frame being fitted inside the existing window reveal, is about 10 to 15 per cent of the cost of double glazing, and can be self-installed. The Energy Saving Trust recommends low emissivity glass to improve the performance of secondary glazing. Secondary glazing is said to pay itself back in a year to 18 months in terms of reduced fuel bills.

Another way to cut down on energy costs is to apply a coating of an additive such as Insuladd® when painting a property. Insuladd® can be mixed with any paint to reflect heat back into the room; “it can reduce energy demand by about 10 per cent,” says David Hudson of the UK wing of Insuladd. For landlords looking for a solid wall insulation solution, the popular Sempatap Thermal product could be an answer. Sempatap Thermal is a 10mm thick product that is as simple to apply as wallpaper and substantially reduces heat loss. It can even be tiled, and has a life expectancy of 30 years.

Increasing energy efficiency in the PRS

According to fuel poverty campaign group National Energy Action, the private-rented sector contains a higher proportion of the least energy efficient dwellings in England. Overall 19 per cent of private-rented properties are rated F or G on the EPC scale and, as such, will be required by law to undergo improvement works.

The simplest measures can sometimes make a major difference. NLA member, Peter Smith runs a student accommodation specialist company (Bill Free Homes) in Durham. He told UK Landlord that the installation of MiniSpecialist Tamperproof Thermostats from M.S. Electronics has led to reductions of up to 40 per cent in energy bills across his company’s 75 houses: “I would recommend this type of temperature control for all shared houses where it is difficult to maintain responsible energy management,” Peter says.

The Lifetime Range® positive input ventilation unit by EnviroVent, who are NLA Recognised Suppliers, is manufactured to outlast the life-cycle of the property. Designed with innovative maintenance facilities, any worn-out components can be quickly exchanged and recycled. Operated by Ultra Low Watt DC/EC Motor Technology, the units also consume the lowest possible energy and have

the ability to run quietly and efficiently for a much longer extended life.

Area Energy Limited supplies a series of products designed to save on energy bills, such as low consumption electric panel radiators, and towel rails. Another highlight of the company’s portfolio is its digital electric water heater that consumes just 20 per cent of the power of normal electric heaters, and which can be programmed using an all-in-one remote controller.

Investing in new technologies

Energy efficiency measures are often the first step towards implementing a more ambitious green energy package. A growing number of landlords are considering new technology products, such as solar photovoltaic panels on roof spaces.

Pete McKeown of Cernunnos Homes says that following the establishment by the government of feed-in tariffs paying a set remuneration for electricity generated from solar panels, there have been over 100,000 Solar PV installations since the introduction of the scheme in April 2010 – compared to just 15,000 pre-scheme launch. As well as making the property more attractive to tenants, landlords can achieve inflation-linked investment returns of over 15 per cent, he says. And next year, the Renewable Heat Incentive and the Green Deal will provide further financial support for landlords to invest in green energy measures.