‘It’s Not Easy Being Green’, was the song that Kermit sang on Sesame Street.

 

Yet now being green is a normal way of life for most of us. Walking or cycling places instead of taking the car, recycling and even shunning meat are some of the things most Harborne households are trying to do their ‘bit’ for going green.

 

Our conduct may have improved but when it comes to our Harborne homes, there is still a long way to go. It is estimated around a fifth of carbon emissions come from home energy usage (nearly three quarters from heating and lighting). The country is releasing 37% less carbon into the atmosphere than in 1990, yet we have legally binding targets to hit 100% by 2050 — and the Committee on Climate Change has stated the UK will need to eradicate greenhouse gas emissions from homes to meet that target.

 

Landlords were hit first because since April 2018, the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) regulations with regards to eco-friendliness of the rental properties have required all rental properties to have a minimum Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of ‘E’ or above otherwise it is illegal to let out a property, bar a couple of exceptions. This has meant Harborne landlords have had to spend many thousands of pounds to improve their rental property’s EPC rating (an EPC rating of ‘A’ being the best eco rating through to a ‘G’ for the worst – just like washing machine or fridge ratings).

 

 

The Government is planning to force banks and building societies to penalise people wanting a mortgage of draughty low-eco homes with an energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of D or lower. For those properties not hitting the correct level of EPC rating, it is suggested some form of levy will be placed on the mortgage provider, who in turn will pass that on to the home buyers in the form of higher mortgage payments. Some are describing this charge as an ‘eco-mortgage levy’.

 

 

Interesting when you compare this with the national average of 60.6%.

 

In real numbers, 269,153 homeowners and landlords in our local authority area would either struggle to get a mortgage from a bank or building society or it would cost them more because they were a ‘D’ rating on their EPC or below.

 

 

Looking at the stats broken down for Birmingham

 

·      335 properties are classified as A on the EPC register

·      27,035 properties are classified as B on the EPC register

·      89,854 properties are classified as C on the EPC register

·      159,527 properties are classified as D on the EPC register

·      86,563 properties are classified as E on the EPC register

·      17,698 properties are classified as F on the EPC register

·      5,365 properties are classified as G on the EPC register

 

 

 

Well surprisingly, it need not cost a lot to improve the EPC rating of your Harborne home. One of the most inexpensive ways to help improve your Harborne home’s energy efficiency is low energy light bulbs with an estimated cost of just under £40 per UK property. Other efficiencies can be gained by insulating your hot water cylinder, draught-proofing any single glazed windows, increasing your loft insulation, and upgrading your central heating controls, all of which can be done for a total of around £750 to £850 per property.