Top 7 Energy Vampires in Your Home (And How to Eliminate Them)

Not all energy waste is obvious. Some devices quietly drain electricity even when you’re not using them — these are known as energy vampires. They might seem small, but together, they can significantly bump up your energy bills. In the UK, where every kilowatt-hour counts, knowing how to spot and eliminate these culprits is key to a more energy-efficient home.

Here are the top 7 energy vampires lurking in British homes — and how to banish them.

1. Devices on Standby Mode

The culprit: TVs, set-top boxes, gaming consoles, and microwaves
The cost: Around £55 a year for the average household, according to the Energy Saving Trust
The fix: Use a standby saver or smart plug to cut power completely when devices aren’t in use. And always switch off at the socket — don’t just leave the red light glowing.

2. Old Fridges and Freezers

The culprit: Ageing, inefficient appliances running 24/7

The cost: A 20-year-old fridge-freezer can cost over £100 a year to run

The fix: Replace with an A-rated energy-efficient model. Look for the latest UK energy label (A-G scale), and aim for A or B where possible.

3. Chargers Left Plugged In

The culprit: Phone, tablet, and laptop chargers

The cost: A few pounds per year each — but it adds up

The fix: Unplug chargers when not in use, or use a smart power strip that shuts off power automatically when the device is fully charged.

4. Electric Towel Rails

The culprit: Often left on all day in bathrooms

The cost: £50–£80 a year if used carelessly

The fix: Install a timer or use a smart switch to control usage. Consider air-drying towels or using a radiator towel rail connected to your central heating instead.

5. Underfloor Heating

The culprit: Popular in UK bathrooms and kitchens — but energy-hungry

The cost: Can add hundreds to annual bills if left running

The fix: Use it only when needed. Invest in a programmable thermostat with zoned control to manage heat efficiently.

6. Second Fridges and Freezers

The culprit: Garage or shed appliances running constantly

The cost: Up to £100 per year for an older model

The fix: Ask if you really need it. If so, make sure it’s rated for outbuilding use and energy efficient. Defrost regularly and keep it full to improve efficiency.

7. Inefficient Lighting

The culprit: Halogen bulbs and old CFLs

The cost: Halogen spotlights use 4–5 times more electricity than LEDs

The fix: Switch to LED bulbs throughout your home. They use up to 90% less energy and last much longer — saving money and hassle.

Final Thought

Tackling these hidden energy drains is one of the quickest ways to lower your bills without sacrificing comfort. A few smart swaps and habits can make a noticeable difference — and it’s better for the planet too.

Tip: Get a smart meter if you haven’t already — it’ll show exactly how much energy you’re using, helping you track down these vampires in real-time.

31st January 202531st January 2025

The Ultimate Guide to an Energy-Efficient Home: Tips for Every Room

Reducing energy consumption at home not only helps lower utility bills but also contributes to a healthier planet. An energy-efficient home is comfortable, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly. Whether you’re looking to make small changes or undergo major upgrades, this guide offers practical energy-saving tips for every room in your house.

Living Room: Maximising Comfort and Efficiency

Lighting
• Switch to LED bulbs, which use up to 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs.
• Utilise smart lighting with motion sensors or timers to avoid unnecessary electricity use.
• Take advantage of natural light by keeping curtains open during the day.

Heating & Cooling
• Seal windows and doors with weatherstripping to prevent drafts.
• Use ceiling fans to circulate air efficiently—anticlockwise in summer and clockwise in winter.
• Set your thermostat wisely—lower it in winter (around 20°C) and raise it in summer (around 25°C).

Electronics & Appliances
• Unplug TVs, gaming consoles, and other electronics when not in use, or use a smart power strip to cut off phantom energy.
• Opt for high rated appliances, which use less electricity without compromising performance.

Kitchen: Reducing Waste and Consumption

Appliances
• Choose an energy-efficient refrigerator and set it to 3-4°C, while the freezer should be at -17°F.
• Keep the fridge well-stocked but not overcrowded to maintain proper airflow and efficiency.
• Use a microwave, toaster, or air fryer for small meals instead of the hob or oven, which use more energy.
• Run the dishwasher only when full, and use the eco or air-dry setting.

Cooking & Water Usage
• Cover pots and pans while cooking to reduce energy use.
• Use low-flow tap to cut down on water consumption.
• Fix leaks promptly—a dripping tap can waste gallons of water per day.

Bedroom: Sleeping Smarter, Not Harder

Lighting & Electronics
• Use dimmable LED bulbs to adjust brightness according to needs.
• Turn off charging devices (phones, laptops) once fully charged.
• Opt for thermal curtains to maintain room temperature and reduce strain on heating/cooling systems.

Temperature Control
• Use energy-efficient bedding like weighted blankets or thermal comforters instead of relying on space heaters.
• Set your thermostat lower at night (between 16-19°C) for better sleep and energy savings.
• If using a fan, clean it regularly to maintain efficiency.

Bathroom: Conserving Water & Power

Water-Saving Strategies
• Install low-flow shower-heads and tap aerators to reduce water usage.
• Take shorter showers—cutting just 2 minutes can save up to 19 litres of water per session.
• Fix leaks immediately—a leaky toilet can waste over 750 litres of water per day!

Lighting & Ventilation
• Use LED bulbs for vanity and overhead lighting.
• Install a motion-sensor or timer for exhaust fans to prevent them from running longer than necessary.

Utility Room: Washing Smarter, Not Harder

Washing Machine & Dryer Tips
• Wash clothes in cold water to save on heating costs (unless a hot wash is necessary).
• Always run full loads to maximize energy efficiency.
• Use dryer balls to reduce drying time and energy use.
• Clean the dryer’s lint trap regularly to maintain efficiency and prevent fire hazards.
• Consider air drying clothes when possible—this eliminates energy use entirely!

Home Office: Reducing Energy Waste While Working

Electronics
• Use energy-efficient computers and monitors, and enable power-saving mode.
• Turn off your computer and printer when not in use.
• Use a smart power strip to manage multiple devices at once.

Lighting & Climate Control
• Position your desk near natural light to reduce reliance on lamps.
• Use a desk lamp with LED bulbs instead of overhead lights.
• Keep office windows sealed and insulated to maintain temperature efficiency.

Outdoors & Garage: Cutting Costs Beyond the House

Exterior Lighting
• Use solar-powered outdoor lights to eliminate electricity use.
• Install motion-sensor lighting to reduce unnecessary energy consumption.

Landscaping & Yard
• Plant shade trees to naturally cool your home in summer.
• Use drought-resistant plants to reduce water consumption.
• Install a water butt to collect and reuse rainwater for gardening.

Garage & Appliances
• Insulate your garage to prevent heat loss in colder months.
• Use smart plugs to control devices like electric car chargers more efficiently.

Final Thoughts: Small Changes, Big Impact

Making your home more energy-efficient doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By making gradual changes—switching to LED bulbs, sealing leaks, and using energy-efficient appliances—you’ll see noticeable savings on your utility bills while reducing your environmental footprint.

Start implementing these tips today, and enjoy a more sustainable, cost-effective, and comfortable home!

Do you have any energy-saving tips that have worked for you? Share them in the comments below!

13th November 202413th November 2024

A Guide to Low Energy Bulbs

Since the manufacture of traditional incandescent light bulbs ceased in 2016 it has become far less common to see them in UK homes. The same is true of halogen light bulbs that which the UK government banned from sale in September 2021. The reason behind this is to reduce the 11% of domestic electricity consumption used for lighting.

Traditional lights bulbs only convert around 5-10% of the electricity they use into light (the rest is given off as heat). They also didn’t last long as the tungsten filament used to produce the light is prone to breaking. Low energy alternatives are Compact Florescent Lights (CFLs) and Light Emitting Diode (LED) lights.

CFL bulbs

This type of bulb is typically 75% more efficient than an incandescent or halogen light bulb and can last up to ten times longer. In the early days users would often complaints about the length of time they took to light up and about the dimness of the light they produced.

Although CFLs did get better they are also being phased out. The reason for this is because they contain small amounts of mercury. The RoHS (Restriction of the use of Hazardous Substances) initiative means that the production of CFL’s, and most fluorescent tubes (T5 and T8) will stop from February 2024. Although it is still legal to buy CFL bubs, it will get harder to find them as existing stocks dry up.

LED bubs

LED bulbs are typically 90% more efficient than an incandescent or halogen bulb and twice as efficient as a CFL bulb. LED bulbs also last significantly longer (estimated at around 25,000 hours) than halogen (estimated at around 2,000 hours) and CFL light bulbs (estimated at around 10,000 hours – roughly 10 years).

Despite this, not everyone liked using LED bulbs when they were first introduced for household lighting, due to the harshness of the light they produced. Much has changed since then, with a much wider choice of colour and brightness available. Indeed, one of the advantages now of LEDs over other types of bulb is the shear range of colours available, measured in Kelvin (k).

Colour

The Colour Rendering Index (CRI) of a bulb tells you how well a bulb will illuminate a chosen colour compared to sunlight measured on a scale of 0-100. The higher the number the more accurate the colour will be. A CRI of 80 or more is appropriate for most household tasks, although great colour rendering, with all colours easily distinguishable starts at a CRI of 90.

Further information on the box will tell you whether the bulb has been manufactured to produce a blue, white (often referred to as cool white or pure white) or a more relaxing yellow white (often referred to as warm white or soft white). In terms of Kelvin, you can expect to a very warm, orange light to have a rating of 1,800k and a stark, bluey light to have a rating of 7,000k. Nearest to the light given off by an incandescent bulb is a warm white, with a rating in the region of 2,700k.

Lumens

Historically, we bought lightbulbs based on watts (W). However, this is a measure of the amount of electricity consumed rather than brightness (which is measured in lumens). A 100-watt bulb would be bought for a room we wanted well-lit and a 60- or 40-watt bulb for table lamps.

Today bulbs are sold based on the number of lumens they produce, although sometimes the box will also provide a guide to the number of watts the lumens equate to. The Energy Saving Trust provide a useful comparison table of watts and lumens on their website. A couple of examples from that table are 470 lumens being equivalent to 40-watts and 1,520 lumen being equivalent to 100-watts.

Energy Ratings for bulbs

Like other electrical goods light bulbs have to an A-G energy label of the box. With an A now being the most energy efficient bulb available (A+, A++ or A+++ ratings no longer exist) and G the worst, this label can help you choose the most efficient bulb which meets your lighting needs.

Smart bulbs

Most smart bulbs are LED, with the added advantage of being controllable remotely, via a phone or tablet (and sometimes voice commands as well). Depending on the manufacturer, these smart bulbs can be switched between cool and warm white (and for more expensive smart bulbs other colours too), be dimmed and, be programmed to automatically turn on and off. Some also have motion sensors.

If you want to go down the smart bulb route, it is best to do your research before you buy and stick to one bulb manufacturer. The reason for this is the variations in connectivity used by different manufacturers. Some (like the Philips smart bulb) need a smart hub; some have built in Wi-Fi (like LIFX smart bulbs) and others work over Bluetooth as well as (or instead of Wi-Fi). To control a bulb that uses only by Bluetooth you will need to be within a specific range – often no more than ten meters.

Bulb replacement

One of the biggest savings that can be made by any householder is replacing halogen spotlights for an LEDs in the rooms that are the most frequently used. This is not just because LED bulbs are more efficient (and you will not be able to buy halogen bulbs in future), but because of the number of spotlights usually linked together on one switch. If you are unlucky you will need to replace the transformers in the existing fitting to switch from a halogen to LED bulb. If you are not sure about this, it is best to consult with an electrician.

According to the Energy Saving Trust switching a 35-watt halogen bulb for an LED once can save you up to £4 per bulb per year (based on a 525-lumen bulb running for 521 hours per year). Multiply that by six and you have a saving of up to £28 a year, albeit less the initial investment of buying replacement bulbs.

The last bulbs to replace in your home are the ones which are used the least – for example, the bulb in the attic used for storage only, under the stairs or in a cupboard. The payback on replacing bulbs in spaces like these will be minimal. In most cases you are safe to wait until the bulb stops working.

15th March 201914th March 2019

Tips for Improving your EPC Rating

There are many reasons to try and get the highest possible score on your EPC. The first is to try and ensure that your house is as energy efficient as possible. An energy efficient house costs less to run, saving you a potential fortune on your heating bills.

The other reasons are in terms of actually needing to achieve certain ratings. If you’re a landlord then your property MUST achieve an ‘E’ rating before you can rent it out. If you are looking for a Feed in Tariff (FiT) when you install a renewable energy product, then your property must already be ‘D’ rated.

Here are five top tips for improving your EPC score.

Insulation – The most important consideration can also be the cheapest too. Twenty five percent of a property’s heat is lost through its roof, luckily loft insulation is not only cheap, it is also one of the easiest things to install. Ensure you install it to a depth of 270mm (do not crush under boarding) in order to get the most benefit.Wall insulation is also crucial. Cavity wall insulation needs to be done by a professional company but it can be a relatively cheap process. Depending on government funding available to energy companies it can also be free.
Solid wall insulation can be very expensive but can also be the number one saver for energy bills in older houses.
Install renewable energy – If your home is suitable you should look into installing renewable energy. In almost all cases they will provide a large boost to your EPC score.Most people will think of solar panels when they imagine domestic renewables and Solar PV panels to supply electricity have been very popular. But you can also consider solar thermal panels for your hot water or biomass boilers or heat pumps to heat your home.
When improving your EPC, if you want your property to achieve maximum score then you MUST have some renewable energy in place.
Replace an old boiler – Heating makes up a large percentage of a household’s energy costs. If you have an old, inefficient boiler it will be reflected in your EPC score and, more importantly, it will be costing you more money than it should to heat your home.Look into getting an ‘A’ rated boiler and ensure that you have full control over the heating in your home. Also consider the installation of a room thermostat, a programmer and TRVs (thermostatic radiator valves.)
Get double glazing – If you have old, thin, single glazed windows with wooden frames then you shouldn’t be surprised to learn that a significant portion of the heat from your home is being lost through them.Get double or triple glazing installed. If it’s too expensive or it’s not possible, secondary glazing can be just as effective.
Replace your lightbulbs with LEDs – You can’t buy halogen bulbs anymore and there’s a good reason. Not only are they not energy efficient but they often only last a couple of years.Although replacing the bulbs will only have a small impact in improving your EPC and despite the fact that at first glance they seem expensive, when you learn that LED bulbs can last more than 20 years you realise that you’re actually going to save money.

If you enjoyed this article you might also like Biggest EPC Wins.

13th November 201722nd November 2018

Energy Performance Certificates – What Does an Assessor do in Your House?

You know what an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is, but what exactly does an assessor do when they visit your house? If you call EPC Bromley to arrange an domestic energy assessment then what can you expect when they visit?

Have a look below for a summary of the items that EPC Bromley will consider during the assessment for your EPC.

House Age and Build Type

Working out the year that the house and any extensions were built will tell us what the building regulations were at that time and therefore how energy efficient the house is in general. A house built in 1930 would have had no insulation fitted to the walls as a regulation, this is not the case with a house built in 2010.

The build type (detached, terrace, flat) tells us where the heat may be escaping from. A detached house generally has at least four cold walls whereas a semi will have one shared wall which is warm. A flat could be heated from all sides and have a communal corridor area which is heated too.

Dimensions

Quite simply we measure the volume of your property. We need to know the amount of space you have to heat before we make a judgement on how you heat it. We’ll also consider whether you have a conservatory.

If your conservatory has an outside door sealing it off then it is discounted, if it is open plan then it is included and considered a source where heat can escape more easily.

Walls

Wall types are generally solid, cavity or timber framed and are as efficient as the regulations in place when they were built. Traditionally, solid walls without insulation were used on houses until well into the 1930s, this kind of wall is very inefficient.

If it is a cavity wall then we check whether the cavity has been filled with insulation retrospectively, as originally cavity walls were not filled.

Roofs

We poke our head into the loft and see whether it is insulated, if it has then how deep is it? Traditional insulation at the joists should be at least 270 mm deep. Remember, if you crush it down with floorboards to 100 mm then it is only 100 mm effective.

Floors

Are they solid or suspended floorboards, has it been insulated or do you have another dwelling below you?

Openings

We consider how many doors you have and whether those doors are insulated. We look at how much glazing you have and whether it is single, double or triple glazed. If it’s double glazed we consider what year it was installed, double glazing installed from 2002 onwards is much more efficient than glazing fitted before then.

If it was fitted before 2002 then we consider the frame type (metal, pic or wood) and the gap between the panes of glass.

We also look at how much draught proofing is in place.

Ventilation & Lighting

We look at how many fireplaces the property has and whether these are open, we also look for any mechanical ventilation or cooling systems that are in place.

We count the amount of light fittings and at the same time we count how many of these have low energy bulbs in place.

Heating Systems

How do you heat your home? If you use a traditional boiler then we consider how efficient that boiler is. Modern condensing boilers get the highest efficiency scores.

We consider how the heat is distributed (radiators, underfloor) and how that heat is controlled. Properties that have a room thermostat, thermostatic radiator valves and a heating timer will score highest.

If your property has more than one heating system then this is also considered as well as any secondary heaters such as a gas or electric fires in the reception rooms.

Water

How do you heat your water? Do you have a combination boiler or a hot water cylinder? If it’s a cylinder then how large is it? Is it insulated? Does it have a thermostat? We then consider how many bath/shower rooms are in the property, how many of these have baths, showers or both?

We also look at other options for water heating which may be in place. These include solar water heating, waster water heat recovery systems (WWHRS) and flue gas heat recovery systems (FGHRS).

New Technologies

We investigate if you have any other new technologies in place like solar photovoltaic panels or a wind turbine. The terrain you live in is considered(urban, suburban, rural) which determines whether a wind turbine would be suitable.

Checks are made at this point to see what type of electricity meter the property is has (dual or single charge). If the house isn’t heated by a gas boiler, we see whether there is a gas meter indicating it would be an option.

Any other info

Here’s where you can note whether the property has a swimming pool or uses a more obscure way to heat itself. For example micro CHP or a biofuel that isn’t listed in the usual database.

If you don’t understand some of these points, feel free to get in touch with EPC Bromley and ask. Otherwise your EPC Bromley assessor will be happy to answer any questions you may have whilst the survey is taking place.

3rd November 201722nd November 2018

What is an EPC and What Does it Show? – EPC Bromley explains

If a home is on the market for renting or selling then it needs to have a valid EPC, it’s as simple as that. But rather than being a pointless piece of bureaucracy, EPC Bromley considers that it can actually be used as the instruction manual telling you how to make your property more energy efficient.

However, EPC Bromley has discovered that although people have the certificate they have trouble deciphering the information within it. So we’ve put together this guide.

What are EPCs for?

On a very basic level an EPC lets you compare the energy efficiency between one property and another. This is obviously useful information if you are looking to buy or rent a property.

Secondly it tells you which energy efficiency improvements can be done, how much they will cost to install and how much money they will save you once installed.

EPC Explained

Page One – Current Costs and Potential Costs

This shows you the estimates of how much your house costs to light up, to heat and produce hot water. It then shows you what these costs could be if you had the recommended energy efficiency measures installed and how much you could therefore save.

In this case you can see that this house could potentially save over £1,000 a year.

Energy Efficiency Rating

This is the main data that people are concerned with. It looks a bit like the ratings that are given to electrical appliances because it is.

The ratings are scored out of a total of 100 and these then correspond to the letters A-G, with A being the highest.

The two ratings show the level that the property is currently at, compared to the level it could achieve if all measures were installed. In this case the property is ‘F’ rated but could potentially achieve a ‘C’.

Top Actions

The top actions are also featured at the bottom of page one. These are the measures that could see the property reach its potential the most quickly. A full list is shown further on in the document

Page Two – Energy Performance Summary

This breaks down each and every element of the property into a description and a rating. This is to give you more information as to the construction of the property, the way it heats up, the way that heating is controlled and how the property is lit.

This property has energy inefficient solid walls and no insulation in the loft. However the boiler is considered pretty efficient.

Low and Zero Carbon Energy Sources

This list shows if the property gets any energy from low carbon sources. this includes renewables such as Solar PV or Solar water heating panels. In this case the property has none.

Heat Demand of the Property

This shows the expected heat demand of the property and how this will change if insulation is installed. This section is used for people considering installing renewable heating into their home, it enables calculations for Renewable Heat Incentive payments.

Page Three – Recommended Improvements

This is in fact the most important part on the EPC. It shows you in detail all of the recommendations, their costs, their savings and how much the property’s energy rating will go up once they are installed.

They are also shown in order of how important they are. It is a good guide as to how you should decide which energy efficiency measures to install first. In this case installing wall insulation will increase the rating from a 31 to a 50, an increase of 19 points which would take the property from an ‘F’ to an ‘E’.

The latter recommendations are aimed at people who want the property to achieve the highest possible rating.

Alternative Measures

This is a list of other measures that could further improve the efficiency of the property. This could list things such as air and ground source heat pumps. In this case it recommends Micro CHP.

Page Four – Other Information

This part has disclaimers about the EPC, who completed it, when and how they are qualified to do so.

Environmental impact

The last section shows the amount of carbon emissions from the property and how this impact could be lowered if all recommended measures were installed.

EPC Bromley hopes this guide has been useful. Remember, your EPC is public domain and can always be viewed at epcregister.com.

22nd August 201722nd November 2018

Lighting your Home The Energy Efficient Way in Bromley

A recent survey carried out by the Energy Saving Trust found that in the UK, we could save more than £1.4 billion every year on our electricity bills by simply replacing our old inefficient bulbs.

This is something we consistently find at EPC Bromley. Houses continue to have the traditional but completely inefficient old style halogen and incandescent bulbs. This is despite the huge cost saving potential of using energy saving light bulbs, such as LEDs and CFL bulbs.

EPC Bromley estimated that the saving could be as much as £50 per year per household.

The UK is well behind other countries in Europe when it comes to our yearly LED purchases. Just one-third of all of our bulb purchases are LEDs.

According to EPC Bromley, Why is this the case in the UK?

Perhaps people are confused as to exactly what energy saving bulbs they should be buying in each case? Perhaps the information available is too confusing? When comparing the 60 watt wattage in an incandescent bulb to the comparable wattage in an LED bulb the much lower and varied wattages can certainly be confusing.

It seems that clear labelling is certainly one of the issues.

Price would seem to be another. LED bulbs can often cost around the £7 mark, whereas the old fashioned equivalent can cost significantly more. When replacing all the bulbs in the house it can certainly seem quite expensive, the £50 per year saving ends up looking quite small.

However, most LED bulbs have an expected lifespan of between ten and twenty years. This means that you may never have to replace them in all the time you live in the house. As we all know, the same cannot be said of halogen bulbs, some of which seem to go every other week!

At EPC Bromley we highly recommend LED bulbs, not only because of the cost saving but because of the crisp white light and stylish designs which complement any house. If you think that low energy bulbs need to be ugly, curly and dim, think again.

22nd May 201722nd November 2018

Top Ten Tips for Better Home Energy Efficiency in Bromley

Read below for the top ten tips for energy efficiency in your home from EPC Bromley.

Replace light bulbs with LEDs – Gone are the days when energy efficient light bulbs made your light fittings look ugly and were as bright as a flickering candle. Modern LED spotlights, for example, are now bright enough to replace your halogens and they come in all shapes and sizes to fit any light fitting.

Control your heating – Your heating and hot water take up over half of your monthly fuel bills. Ensuring you have a heating programmer, a room thermostat and thermostatic radiator valves and using them effectively could save you a ton of money each year.

Draught proofing – Unless you have a particularly modern home you will be losing heat through gaps around doors and windows, or through the floorboards or chimney. DIY draught proofing can prove to be incredibly cheap.

Insulate your hot water tank – Your tank should have highly efficient foam insulation fitted around it. If it doesn’t, then purchase a hot water cylinder jacket. It’s far less efficient but better than nothing!

Wall insulation – Cavity wall insulation is efficient and cheap (sometimes free!). If you need solid wall insulation then it is far more expensive, but will save you hundreds of pounds in heating bills each year.

Ensure you have double glazing – Double glazing fitted after 2002 is far more efficient than before. If you are unable to install double glazing then secondary glazing can be just as effective.

Loft insulation – Very important, if you have no loft insulation at all then this will seriously affect the energy efficiency of your house. Remember, the recommended minimum depth is 270 mm. If you place floorboards over the top of insulation it is only as effective as the depth it is squashed to.

Use your shower rather than a bath – Showers use far less water than a bath, therefore your boiler is working less time to heat the water.

Install solar energy – Solar thermal panels for hot water and Solar PV panels for electricity will not only make your home more energy efficient, but they will also save you a lot of money. If you live in a rural area it is also worth considering a wind turbine.

Track your energy usage – Energy monitors help you to keep an eye on how much energy you are using. Most energy providers will be able to supply you with one.

If you need any other advice regarding domestic energy efficiency, call EPC Bromley to speak to an expert.