The most energy-efficient housing areas are revealed — plus the least efficient too
A Household Energy Efficiency Index has been released using government data to reveal which local authorities have the most sustainable homes
The most and least energy-efficient housing areas in England and Wales have been revealed in a new study.
Conducted by energy experts at Utility Bidder, the analysis used official government data to assess average energy consumption, CO2 emissions, heating costs, and hot water costs, ultimately awarding each local authority an ‘Energy Efficiency Score’ out of 10.
The study looked at 318 local authorities to create the Household Energy Efficiency Index to help homeowners combat energy price rises by learning from the areas leading the way in sustainability.
Knowsley has the most energy-efficient homes
Knowsley, Merseyside, was revealed to be the local authority with the most energy-efficient homes in England and Wales.
Knowsley topped the list with a score of 9.69, owing to its low energy usage, low CO2 emissions, affordable utility bills, and a high percentage of dwellings rated A-C for energy performance in 2023. The borough in Merseyside includes areas like Kirkby, Huyton, Prescot, and Knowsley itself.
Hackney followed closely with a score of 9.62, with other London boroughs such as Newham, Islington, Barking and Dagenham, Southwark, and Wandsworth also featuring prominently in the top 10.
Powys found to have the least energy-efficient homes
The ten least energy-efficient housing areas found that the Welsh region of Powys possessed the least energy-efficient households.
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The area scored just 0.11 out of 10 as it ranked poorly across all evaluated factors, with particularly high heating and hot water costs.
London the region with highest energy-efficiency score
Although Knowsley has the best energy-efficiency score, London was found to have the best score of any region in England and Wales.
London achieved an energy-efficiency score of 9.33 with many homeowners in the capital leading the way for making their homes more sustainable.
James Longley, managing director at Utility Bidder commented on the findings, stating: “We aren’t surprised that London local authorities dominate the resultant rankings for energy efficiency, with Hackney ranking as one of seven London boroughs to make the top 10.
“As we’ve seen in our study, home energy efficiency can vary considerably depending on where you are in the country, which can mean higher bills and colder homes.
James offered a number of energy saving tips that were used by the most successful areas in the study, such as installing an air source heat pump, installing double or triple glazing, draught-proofing your home and using LED bulbs.
News Editor Joseph has previously written for Today’s Media and Chambers & Partners, focusing on news for conveyancers and industry professionals. Joseph has just started his own self build project, building his own home on his family’s farm with planning permission for a timber frame, three-bedroom house in a one-acre field. The foundation work has already begun and he hopes to have the home built in the next year. Prior to this he renovated his family's home as well as doing several DIY projects, including installing a shower, building sheds, and livestock fences and shelters for the farm’s animals. Outside of homebuilding, Joseph loves rugby and has written for Rugby World, the world’s largest rugby magazine.