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How it works series

How renewable technologies actually work.

Each technology in plain English: what it does, typical savings, carbon and what it means for your EPC. Where no official figure exists, we say so.

Today's energy prices

Ofgem price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026: electricity 26.32p per kWh, 54.83p a day standing charge; gas 7.97p per kWh, 29.68p a day standing charge. That works out at about £1,723 a year for a typical dual-fuel household paying by Direct Debit.

Ofgem: price cap 1 October to 31 December 2026

The technologies

Solar PV

Panels on your roof turn daylight into electricity. Your home uses it first, any surplus can charge a battery, and the rest is exported to the grid and paid for through the Smart Export Guarantee.

Typical savings
Depends on roof, usage and export rate. The Energy Saving Trust now gives property-specific estimates rather than one national figure; a typical system costs around £7,600.
Carbon
Varies with system size and grid carbon. No single current national figure is published.
EPC impact
A recognised EPC-improving measure. The size of the improvement varies by property; no fixed figure is published.
Best for
Homes and businesses with a suitable roof that use electricity in the day, or pair it with a battery.
Energy Saving Trust: solar panelsEnergy Saving Trust: improving your EPC rating

Battery storage

A home battery stores surplus solar or cheaper off-peak electricity and releases it in the evening, so you buy less at peak prices.

Typical savings
Published guidance suggests roughly £400 to £800 a year extra alongside solar, or about £280 to £650 a year on a time-of-use tariff without solar. It depends on tariff and battery size.
Carbon
Not separately published. The main benefit is on bills; carbon depends on when the grid is cleanest.
EPC impact
Not published as a direct EPC measure.
Best for
Homes with solar or access to a time-of-use tariff.
Energy Saving Trust: battery storage

Air source heat pump

An outdoor unit takes heat from the outside air, even in winter, and concentrates it to heat radiators and hot water. It delivers roughly three units of heat for every unit of electricity.

Typical savings
Depends on what it replaces and your tariff. The Energy Saving Trust found the right tariff and system combination can cut bills by up to about £800 a year compared with a poorly matched setup. Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant up to £7,500 in England and Wales.
Carbon
Government states heat pumps significantly reduce emissions compared with gas boilers. No single household figure is published.
EPC impact
Improvement varies by property; no fixed figure is published.
Best for
Homes with a wet heating system and a hot water cylinder, especially off the gas grid.
Energy Saving Trust: air source heat pumpsEnergy Saving Trust: Boiler Upgrade SchemeEnergy Saving Trust: what really cuts energy bills (2026)GOV.UK: heat pumps explained

EV home charging

A home charger, usually 7kW, charges the car overnight, ideally on a cheap off-peak tariff.

Typical savings
The biggest saving comes from an off-peak EV tariff rather than the charger itself. Which? puts typical annual charging costs around £500 at standard rates, falling to a few hundred pounds overnight.
Carbon
Depends on mileage and grid carbon; no single household figure is published.
EPC impact
Not an EPC-scored measure.
Best for
Drivers with off-street parking.
Which?: cost of charging an electric car

Loft and cavity wall insulation

Insulation slows heat escaping. Around a quarter of heat can be lost through an uninsulated roof and about a third through uninsulated walls.

Typical savings
Cavity wall insulation is commonly quoted at £100 to £370 a year depending on property. Loft top-up savings depend on existing depth; check the Energy Saving Trust calculator.
Carbon
Not published as a fixed figure.
EPC impact
A recognised EPC-improving measure; the improvement varies.
Best for
Almost every home; usually the first step before new heating.
Energy Saving Trust: roof and loft insulationEnergy Saving Trust: cavity wall insulationEnergy Saving Trust: improving your EPC rating

Hybrid heat pump

A heat pump does most of the heating while the existing boiler steps in on the coldest days or for hot water.

Typical savings
No standard national figure is published. Results depend on controls and the relative price of electricity and gas.
Carbon
Government research reports meaningful reductions versus gas-only heating; no standard household figure.
EPC impact
Not published.
Best for
Homes not yet ready for a full heat pump.
BEIS: hybrid heat pumps study

Facts checked 4 October 2026. Figures are typical and depend on your property, usage and tariff. This is general information, not personal advice.

Just ask Max.

The right mix depends on your roof, heating, tariff and how you live. Max can show what fits your home.

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