Over 56% of the total properties in England have below-average energy efficiency, presenting a major opportunity for the window and door industry to identify where to target retrofit projects and how they can optimise marketing to homeowners - according to new research from Eurocell.
To examine the scale of inefficient housing stock in England, Eurocell analysed national Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) data, revealing the regions most in need of urgent efficiency upgrades and demonstrating where the biggest opportunities are for fabricators and installers to support homeowners in upgrading their property’s energy performance.
EPC Data Lays Bare the Scale of the Challenge
It’s no secret that England has an ageing housing stock that needs modernising to today’s energy efficiency standards. But Eurocell's analysis reveals that there are 32 areas that have a portion of properties with a below average EPC rating (D to G), above 65 per cent - with Isles of Scilly topping the list with 84.90 per cent - laying bare the scale of the challenge the industry faces.
A further 232 areas in England out of a total of 308 analysed, also have a portion of properties with a below average EPC rating, at above 50 per cent.
The 32 Areas with a Portion of Properties with a Below Average EPC Rating Above 65 Percent
| Local Authority | Portion of Properties with Below Average EPC Rating (%) |
|---|---|
| Isles of Scilly | 84.90 |
| Pendle | 76.08 |
| Blackpool | 74.60 |
| Castle Point | 74.37 |
| Hyndburn | 73.19 |
| Burnley | 72.41 |
| Barrow-in-Furness | 72.00 |
| Staffordshire Moorlands | 71.21 |
| Eden | 70.88 |
| Copeland | 70.24 |
| Southend-on-Sea | 70.23 |
| North Norfolk | 69.99 |
| Richmondshire | 69.68 |
| Bradford | 69.66 |
| South Lakeland | 69.63 |
| East Lindsey | 68.75 |
| Ryedale | 68.74 |
| Allerdale | 68.60 |
| Calderdale | 68.16 |
| Craven | 67.92 |
| Scarborough | 66.82 |
| Broxtowe | 66.80 |
| Derbyshire Dales | 66.70 |
| South Hams | 66.56 |
| Rossendale | 66.49 |
| North East Lincolnshire | 66.14 |
| King's Lynn and West Norfolk | 65.85 |
| Oadby and Wigston | 65.68 |
| Tendring | 65.64 |
| West Devon | 65.48 |
| Worthing | 65.24 |
| Stockport | 65.21 |
Where Are England’s Least Energy-Efficient Homes?
According to Eurocell’s research, Eden in Cumbria has the highest proportion of least energy-efficient housing in England. 4,319 (17%) of the 24,361 homes here are classed as either an F or G on the rating scale.
- West Devon: 15.83% of homes rated F or G, many relying on costly oil or solid-fuel heating systems.
- Cornwall: 14.91% of homes fall into the lowest energy bands, worsened by ageing properties and damp coastal climates.
- Ryedale: 15.04% of homes in and around the North York Moors fall into the lowest efficiency bands.
Barriers to Improvements Remain Emphasising the Importance of Industry Partnerships
The latest data from the ONS on energy-related home improvements found one in three adults still say cost is the reason why they don’t consider investing in efficiency upgrades. To maximise leads, Eurocell believes fabricators and installers need to work closely with their profile partners to capitalise on postcodes that are more likely to return projects.
Methodology
Eurocell analysed data from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities which contains figures for every household in England and Wales. The number of ratings was contrasted with the number of properties to determine which areas have the best/worst homes in England in terms of energy efficiency. Data correct as of December 2024.