Energy Efficiency
Helping You Keep Your Home Warm, Comfortable and Affordable
At Hull Churches Housing Association (HCHA), we are committed to improving the energy efficiency of our homes and helping tenants reduce energy costs while supporting a greener future.
Energy-efficient homes are cheaper to heat, more comfortable to live in and better for the environment. Through planned investment programmes and external funding opportunities, we continue to improve the energy performance of our properties across Hull and the surrounding area.
What We Are Doing
We are investing in a range of measures designed to improve the energy efficiency of our homes, including:
- Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels
- Battery storage systems
- Improved heating systems
- Energy-efficient windows and doors
- Insulation upgrades where appropriate
- Ongoing monitoring of EPC ratings and property performance
Solar Power and Renewable Energy
As part of our ongoing energy-efficiency programme, more than 175 HCHA homes have benefited from solar power installations. These systems generate renewable electricity directly for your home and can help reduce reliance on energy purchased from the grid.
Energy-efficiency improvements can provide a number of benefits, including:
- Lower energy consumption
- Reduced household energy bills
- More comfortable homes throughout the year
- Improved EPC ratings
- Reduced carbon emissions
- Greater use of renewable energy
- Improved long-term sustainability of homes
Savings will vary depending on household circumstances, but improving the energy performance of homes can make them more affordable to run and more resilient to future energy price increases.
Simple Ways to Save Energy at Home
There are also several things tenants can do to improve energy efficiency and reduce bills:
- Turn off lights and appliances when not in use.
- Use energy-efficient LED bulbs.
- Avoid blocking radiators and heaters.
- Keep doors closed to retain heat.
- Report draughts, repairs or heating issues promptly.
- Monitor energy usage through smart meters where available.
- Use appliances efficiently and avoid leaving them on standby.
Energy-saving advice is available through the UK Government and Energy Saving Trust. Households may also be eligible for grants and support schemes to improve energy efficiency and reduce energy costs. Find ways to save energy in your home – GOV.UK & Energy at home – Energy Saving Trust
Other useful links and resources
- Understanding your gas or electricity bill – Learn how to read your energy bill and identify opportunities to save.
- Family Guide – Small tips to stay warm and make savings.
- No-cost energy efficiency advice
- 10 tips for saving energy in your home – National Grid.
- Light bulbs guide – How bulbs can make a difference to your energy bills.
- Smart meter myth-busting guide
- Smart Export Guarantee explained – Why shopping around can make a difference.
Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs)
All properties rented after 4th January 2009 must have a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). The certificate is shared with you when you move in and is valid for 10 years from when issued.
If you do not have an EPC, please contact us.
What are EPCs?
EPCs tell you how energy efficient a building is and gives it a rating from A (very efficient) to G (inefficient). EPCs lets us know how costly it will be to heat and light the property, and what its carbon footprint is likely to be.
The EPC will also state what the energy-efficiency rating could be if improvements are made and highlights cost-effective ways to achieve a better rating. Some improvements noted on the EPC you can implement yourself, such as switching to more energy-efficient light bulbs.
By 2030, new regulations require all social housing properties to reach at least a C rating on their EPC. As a responsible social landlord, we’re committed to meeting this target across all our homes.
This initiative is designed to:
We’re already taking steps to upgrade our properties and support our tenants every step of the way.
If you would like advice about reducing energy costs, have concerns about heating your home, or would like to discuss energy-efficiency improvements, please contact our team.
Telephone: 01482 210842
Email: info@hcha.co.uk
We are committed to ensuring our homes remain safe, warm, affordable and fit for the future.
