50+ UK energy-saving statistics 2025
As of December 2024, around 4.5 million energy-saving measures have been installed in properties across Great Britain, as homes seek to increase their energy efficiency.
This report gathers the latest energy-saving statistics on a range of factors, including uptake rates on government-backed energy efficiency measures, the average energy efficiency ratings of homes by age and tenure, and more.
Top 10 UK energy-saving statistics
- Between 2013 and 2024, approximately 4.5 million energy efficiency measures were installed in 2.8 million homes in Great Britain through various government support schemes.
- Between 2013 and 2024, 2014 saw the greatest number of energy-saving measures installed across UK homes (783,208).
- Microgeneration has become increasingly popular as an energy efficiency measure over the last decade, with nearly 39,000 systems installed in 2024.
- Houses account for seven in 10 (71.6%) homes in receipt of government energy efficiency measures.
- The North West of England has the greatest share of energy-saving measures installed in Great Britain, at 17%.
- Flats and maisonettes are the most energy-efficient property type, with an average EPC of Band C (73 points).
- The vast majority (97.5%) of homes built since 2012 in England have an EPC rating of ‘C’ or above, with this number rising above 98% in Wales.
- Less than one in five (19.12%) English homes built before 1930 have an EPC rating of ‘C’ or above, with this number falling below 16% for Welsh homes.
- Almost double the number of social rent homes in England have an EPC rating of ‘C’ or above than owner-occupied homes (62.68% vs 36.6%).
- British homes could save £45 a year by turning appliances off standby mode.
UK household energy efficiency statistics
The number of energy efficiency measures installed in UK homes
Between January 2013 and December 2024, across the full range of schemes available to UK residents, around 4.5 million energy efficiency measures have been installed in Great Britain across 2.8 million homes.
The number of energy efficiency measures installed in Great Britain homes via government schemes, 2013-2024
The greatest number of measures installed across UK homes occurred in 2014, with over 783,000 fitted that year, according to a government energy efficiency report. Comparatively, 2017 saw the fewest at 201,478 – over three times less than in 2014.
The number of annual energy efficiency measures installed has fluctuated consistently between 2013 and 2024, with the most recent figures showing an upward trend. After just over 213,000 installations in 2022, the total rose 55% to over 331,000 in 2023, before surpassing 420,000 (+27%) a year later.
Of all government schemes, the Energy Company Obligation scheme has funded the vast majority of the energy efficiency measures installed in UK homes between 2013 and 2024. As of March 2025, 68,052 ECO measures have been installed since the beginning of the year, down around 29% from Q1 2024 (96,042).
The number of measures installed by type of measure
Cavity wall insulation has consistently remained the most popular energy-saving measure installed in UK homes over the last decade, with over a million recorded installations across all government schemes between 2013 and 2024.
The number of energy efficiency measures installed under government schemes by type, 2013-2024
| Year | Boiler | Cavity wall insulation | Loft Insulation | Microgeneration | Other heating | Solid wall insulation | Windows and doors | Other insulation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 167,602 | 166,203 | 126,390 | 0 | 30,130 | 27,549 | 284 | 1,612 |
| 2014 | 115,454 | 316,444 | 206,164 | 0 | 52,934 | 48,966 | 1,874 | 8,473 |
| 2015 | 73,465 | 149,112 | 100,187 | 0 | 50,947 | 32,501 | 2,208 | 2,138 |
| 2016 | 102,111 | 89,717 | 66,101 | 4 | 69,068 | 29,858 | 997 | 1,151 |
| 2017 | 43,812 | 68,753 | 37,027 | 43 | 33,041 | 17,740 | 235 | 768 |
| 2018 | 34,353 | 79,909 | 41,113 | 80 | 33,959 | 19,339 | 823 | 2,137 |
| 2019 | 65,767 | 40,581 | 25,054 | 180 | 44,334 | 11,923 | 10 | 30,419 |
| 2020 | 85,486 | 38,422 | 30,942 | 437 | 106,497 | 9,217 | 5 | 46,335 |
| 2021 | 102,411 | 51,729 | 30,514 | 693 | 151,038 | 9,387 | 10 | 47,924 |
| 2022 | 31,566 | 32,937 | 17,515 | 3,990 | 61,425 | 6,331 | 1 | 10,880 |
| 2023 | 28,475 | 11,320 | 39,130 | 27,779 | 142,376 | 19,860 | 207 | 2,430 |
| 2024 | 30,692 | 7,696 | 45,799 | 38,733 | 179,044 | 33,202 | 11 | 2,610 |
| (Department of Energy Security and Net Zero) |
Energy-saving statistics show that boiler upgrades and ‘other heating’ measures are also among the most popular installations, at 881,194 and 954,793, respectively. However, the number of annual boiler installations has declined rapidly since 2013, when over 167,000 were installed across UK homes. By 2024, this figure stood at just under 31,000 – a fall of nearly 82% in eleven years.
Microgeneration, whereby homes generate their own energy on a small scale as part of a feed-in Tariff scheme (e.g., solar panels, biomass boilers, and heat pumps), has accelerated in popularity since 2022. While fewer than 700 of these measures were installed in 2021, the figure climbed to 3,990 in 2022 (+476%) before surpassing 38,000 (+871%) two years later.
In the first quarter of 2025, there were 8,991 microgeneration measures installed under the ECO scheme alone. This represents a fall of around 10% from Q1 2024 (10,016).
The number of measures installed by household characteristics
Houses account for the majority of homes in the UK receiving energy efficiency renovations via government schemes. With over 1.8 million houses benefiting from the scheme between 2013 and 2024, houses accounted for nearly three-quarters of the overall total.
The number of government energy-saving measures installed by type of property, 2013-2024
Flats, despite being the next biggest target, have been the recipient of less than a fifth (18%) of total ECO measures installed.
Bungalows are the recipient of around half that (9.2%) of flats, with maisonettes accounting for just 1.3% of all measures installed.
In the first quarter of 2025, just under 11,400 houses received energy efficiency measures on the ECO scheme, around 79% of the overall total.
The number of measures installed and households receiving measures by region
Households in the North West of England account for the greatest share of government energy efficiency measures installed in Great Britain, equivalent to more than one in six (17%) households.
The number of households in receipt of government energy efficiency measures across Great Britain, 2013-2024
Largely, a region’s share of measures is in line with its geographical position, with northern regions accounting for a greater number of energy efficiency measures. However, this is not an exact correlation, as, for example, the North East has just a 5.9% share of energy-saving measures, while the South East has an 8.7% share.
English households are in receipt of more than four-fifths (81.8%) of Great Britain’s total energy efficiency measures. Meanwhile, Scottish households are the target of around an eighth (12.9%) of all measures installed, while households in Wales account for just 5.3%.
Over 11,500 energy efficiency measures have been installed in England across the ECO scheme in the first quarter of 2025, equivalent to over 77% of the overall total.
Energy efficiency of housing in England and Wales
The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is used as a straightforward way to understand a home's overall energy efficiency and carbon emissions. It runs from the most energy efficient, Band A (score of 92-100 points), to the least, Band G (1-20 points).
In England and Wales, homes have an average EPC rating of Band D, at scores of 68 and 67, respectively. The latest energy-saving statistics also reveal that flats and maisonettes are the best-scoring property type, with an average EPC rating of Band C (73 points).
EPC bands by age of property
The energy efficiency of a home usually increases as the age decreases. Just 19.12% of properties built in England pre-1930 are graded at Band C or above, with this figure falling to just 15.82% for Welsh homes built in the same period. By comparison, 97.5% of homes built post-2012 in England were rated at Band C or above, with this figure even higher in Wales (98.44%).
Percentage of households in England and Wales with an EPC band ‘C’ or above, by age of property and region (2024)
New-build properties in the North East have the highest proportion of energy-efficient homes, at 99.08%, based on an energy efficiency report from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). In this age class, Yorkshire and the Humber ranks lowest, with 96.02% of post-2012 homes categorised as Band C or above.
Yorkshire and the Humber report the fewest energy-efficient homes across most ages of property. For homes built before 1930, just over one in nine report Band C or above, while nearly 30% of similarly aged properties in London fall into this category.
The only property age where Yorkshire and the Humber does not score the lowest is for homes built between 1930 and 1982, with the West Midlands having the lowest total (34.41%). By contrast, over two in five London homes built in this era had an EPC of Band C or higher.
EPC bands by type of property
Flats and maisonettes are the most energy-efficient property types across every region in Great Britain. The North West has the highest proportion of flats and maisonettes with an EPC rating of Band C or above, at just under three-quarters (73.27%). Meanwhile, the South West recorded the lowest total (65.55%).
Percentage of households in England and Wales rated EPC band C or above by property type and region, 2024
The North East has the highest total of detached houses in Band C or higher at just over three-fifths, more than double the percentage for London (25.69%).
London also has the lowest percentage of energy-efficient semi-detached houses, with less than one in five (17.74%) rated at C or above, compared to more than 43% in the South West.
Over half the terraced houses in the South East have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to less than a third in Yorkshire and the Humber (31.22%).
EPC bands by type of dwelling
Recent energy-saving statistics show that new build homes are more than twice as likely to be energy efficient than existing dwellings across every region in Great Britain.
More than 19 in 20 new builds in every region had EPC ratings of band C or above, with the highest percentage found in the North East (98.89%) and the lowest in Yorkshire and the Humber (95.32%).
Percentage of homes with an EPC rating of Band C or higher by region and type of dwelling, 2024
By comparison, less than half of the existing dwellings across every region had EPC ratings of C or above. London had the highest percentage of previously lived-in properties rated C or higher, at 46.15%.
As with new builds, Yorkshire and the Humber had the lowest number of energy-efficient existing dwellings, with just over 36% rated at Band C or above. This was over 1.5 percentage points less than any other region.
EPC bands by tenure
Socially rented properties have the highest proportion of homes with an EPC band of C or above, at 62.68% in England and 71.15% in Wales. This is almost double that of owner-occupied homes, where just over a third (36.6%) are classed as energy-efficient in England, with this number falling below 31% in Wales.
Over two-fifths of privately rented homes are energy-efficient (43.53%) in England, with the number falling below 36% in Wales.
Percentage of households in England and Wales with an EPC band ‘C’ or above, by tenure and region (2024)
Homes for social rent in the South East have the greatest proportion of Band C and above homes in England, at nearly 68%. This is over 10 percentage points more than in the North East, where less than 58% are energy efficient.
According to the latest UK energy statistics, London homes are typically the most energy efficient overall, with a score of 70. This is illustrated by London having the greatest proportion of energy-efficient owner-occupied (40.78%) and privately rented homes (49.63%).
Yorkshire and the Humber has the lowest proportion of energy-efficient owner-occupied and private rental homes in England, with totals of 31.03% and 36.34%, respectively.
How much can households save by being more energy efficient?
Save £45 a year by switching appliances off standby mode
According to advice from the Energy Saving Trust, savings can be made by an action as simple as turning devices off at the plug, rather than leaving them on standby mode.
The Trust reports that British homes could save £45, while residents in Northern Ireland could save a significant £55 a year using this easy trick.
Save £80 a year by draught-proofing your home
Another piece of advice from the Energy Saving Trust suggests that draught-proofing doors and windows around your home could save you up to £80 a year in Britain, or £95 in Northern Ireland.
The Trust notes that while hiring professional tradespeople to complete this task for you can cost in the region of £250, there are many energy-saving draught-proofing techniques you can complete yourself for much cheaper.
If you do opt to hire someone to complete the work, you will nevertheless begin to see savings in only three and a half years.
Save £65 a year by turning the flow temperature on a combi boiler to 60°C or less
The Money Saving Boiler Challenge calls on energy users to make one single change to their boiler’s settings to help improve energy efficiency and save cash. The Challenge reports that 247,455 people have made the change, but they aim to reach at least 300,000 people.
By turning down the flow temperature on a combi boiler to 60°C or less, the average household can save £65 a year.
Save £60 a year by keeping shower time to four minutes or less
Keeping your shower time to four minutes or less could save you up to £60 a year in Great Britain, or £65 in Northern Ireland, according to the Energy Saving Trust.
The trust has further advice on how to stick to four minutes, as well as other water-saving tips in its ways to save water at home guide.
Want to make your home more energy efficient? Find useful tips you can employ across your home in our energy efficiency guides.
Investment in energy-saving statistics
Analysis of energy-saving statistics shows that global investment in energy efficiency has generally increased year-on-year since 2020, when the figure stood at around £210 billion. A rise of around 24% the following year took the total to £260 billion, with this figure reaching £290 billion in 2022 (+11.5%).
Total global investment in energy efficiency, 2020-2030
Following a small drop to £280 billion in 2023 (-3.4%), global spending is projected to rise to approximately £360 billion in 2030 — a rise of £80 billion over seven years. If correct, then global spending on energy efficiency could be around 71% more in 2030 than it was a decade earlier.
Visit our Green Energy guides for expert advice on a range of topics to help you reduce your carbon footprint at home.
UK energy-savings FAQs
What is energy efficiency?
Energy efficiency refers to any process used to reduce energy output while achieving the same performance, output, or objective. The purpose of energy efficiency is to maximise the production or output of energy while minimising the waste.
The focus on energy efficiency has accelerated in recent years amid the climate crisis, with numerous measures taken, including investment in renewable energy sources, reduction in fossil fuel use, and the creation of more energy-efficient homes.
How do I use renewable energy at home?
Numerous renewable energy sources can be added to your home to help you generate and maintain energy more efficiently, including:
- Heat pumps
- Solar panels
- Biomass boilers
- Hydroelectricity.
The best renewable energy sources for you will vary depending on your home and the area you live in. For example, hydroelectricity is likely to be a better option for powering the home of someone living near a river than someone in an area with limited water flow.
For this reason, you should research in advance before deciding on the best renewable energy source for your home. Uswitch has numerous guides to help you with this process, including info on the cost of heat pumps and hydropower for the home.
How do I calculate energy efficiency?
Energy efficiency is calculated by working out the total useful energy generated by a system and dividing it by the total input. For example, if an energy device uses 200 joules of energy but produces 100 joules of useful energy, its energy efficiency is 0.5 or 50%.
What is the best energy efficiency rating in the UK?
Based on the Energy Saving Trust’s guidelines, the best energy rating a household in Great Britain can receive is A. To achieve a grade A, your home must receive a minimum energy efficiency rating of 92 out of 100, representing excellent overall efficiency.
How to improve energy efficiency at home in the UK?
There are numerous measures you can take to improve your energy efficiency at home, including:
- Insulating the loft or walls
- Upgrading boiler systems
- Using energy-efficient light bulbs
- Installing a smart meter
- Installing renewable energy systems (heat pumps, solar panels)
- Lifestyle/habit changes (e.g., taking shorter showers, turning off lights when leaving a room).
These are just a selection of things you can do to make your home more efficient in both the short and long term. For a comprehensive guide to improving your energy efficiency, check out our 104 energy-saving tips for your home.
Are people using less energy in the UK?
Data from the Office for National Statistics (2024) found that 44% of adults in Great Britain are using less fuel, including electricity, than in previous years. This was attributed to concerns around the cost of living crisis, with Brits turning to energy-saving measures in order to reduce bills.
What is the energy efficiency rate in the UK?
The energy performance certificate (EPC) is used as an easy way to understand the overall energy efficiency of a property. It runs from the most energy-efficient, Band A (score of 92-100 points), to the least, Band G (1-20 points).
In England and Wales, homes have an average EPC rating of Band D, at scores of 68 and 88, respectively.
Comparatively, recent UK business energy statistics found that the majority of business premises hold an EPC of Band C.
How many homes in the UK are not insulated?
The House of Commons Library reports that 29% of British homes with cavity walls have no cavity wall insulation (6.1 million properties). Moreover, 33% of homes with lofts have less than 125mm of loft insulation (8.5 million properties), while 91% of homes with solid walls have no solid wall insulation (7.7 million properties).
How much does the eco mode on boilers save?
The Money Saving Boiler Challenge reports that the average home could save up to £65 each year by lowering the flow temperature on their boiler.
UK enegy-savings glossary
ECO measures
This stands for ‘Electricity Company Obligation,’ and is a way for people living in social housing, or in receipt of certain benefits, to get help to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.
Green Deal Plan
This scheme encourages people to make energy-saving changes to their properties, acting as a loan where repayments are added to future electricity bills. Government backing for the scheme ended in 2015, but it has since been revived by private lenders.
Sources
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/household-energy-efficiency-national-statistics
https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/hub/quick-tips-to-save-energy/
https://moneysavingboilerchallenge.com/
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1469397/energy-efficiency-investment-worldwide-forecast/
https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflationandpriceindices/articles/costoflivinginsights/energy
https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9889/
