Experts are warning of the “North-South divide” when it comes to energy efficiency as households in certain parts of the country are paying significantly more in gas and electricity bills.
Cotswold Energy is sounding the alarm that households in the North and Wales are paying higher energy bills than the rest of the UK, according to analysis of figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Households in Yorkshire and The Humber, Wales and the North West were found to have the lowest energy performance certificates (EPC)
This is resulting in colder homes for Britons and consequently higher energy bills in the winter months of the year.
An EPC tells shares how energy efficient someone’s property is with a sliding scale rating from A being considered “very efficient” to G which is “inefficient”.
The certificate informs people where to improve in making their home energy sufficient and even estimates the savings that can me made.
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Energy bills are higher in the North than the South, according to new research
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Here is a full breakdown of the EPC ratings by region in the UK, with the percentage of homes with a rating or C or above, according to Cotswold Energy Group:
- Yorkshire & The Humber 39.84
- Wales – 40.12 per cent
- North West – 41.19 per cent
- West Midlands – 43.88 per cent
- East Midlands – 44.22 per cent
- South West – 45.24 per cent
- North East – 45.88 per cent
- East of England 0 47.59 per cent
- South East – 49.29 per cent
- London – 51.54 per cent.
London, the South East and the East of England were revealed to have the highest EPC ratings with homes more likely to be warmer and energy bills lower.
Some 39.84 per cent of homes in Yorkshire and The Humber boast an EPC rating of C or above, according to Cotswold Energy.
Within local authorities such as Isles of Scilly, Pendle and Gwynedd, only 12.66 per cent, 24.45 per cent and 25.09 per cent of homes have an EPC rating of C or above.
Britons living in these areas pay a premium to warm their homes due to poor insulation and older housing stock.
As such, many working-class families are being plunged into fuel poverty with higher energy costs and carbon emissions.
Jon Bonnar, the managing director at Cotswold Energy, said: “This data on EPC ratings across England and Wales exposes a clear North-South divide. There are no local authorities from London in this list, and only the Isles of Scilly – geographically located far southwest of mainland Britain – represents the south where space is naturally at a premium to build new, energy-efficient housing.
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“Southern regions often boast newer builds with better insulation than the older housing stock prevalent in the North.
“Additionally, the prevalence of flats and apartments in the South contributes to their energy efficiency advantage compared to Northern areas dominated by detached and terraced houses. Importantly, Northern regions with lower average incomes may have seen less investment in upgrading existing housing stock, further widening the gap.
“This North-South divide highlights the need for targeted government support and initiatives to improve energy efficiency in less fortunate regions.
“By investing in upgrades for existing homes through schemes like ECO4 and the Great British Insulation Scheme, the UK can ensure all residents have access to warm, affordable housing and contribute to a greener future.”
