Why start with a Green Home Assessment?

 

The green home market can be confusing.

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A solar company will naturally talk to you about solar panels.

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A heat-pump installer will concentrate on heating.

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A glazing company will assess the windows.

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An insulation contractor will look at insulation.

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All may provide perfectly good advice within their own specialist field.

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But homeowners are often left with a much more important question:

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Which improvements should I actually spend my money on?

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That is what the Desktop Green Home Assessment is designed to help answer.

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An independent whole-home view

 

We do not begin by assuming that your home needs a particular technology.

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Instead, we look across the main areas that can influence energy use, comfort and future sustainability.

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Depending on the property, your assessment can consider:

• existing energy consumption

• current heating and hot-water system

• insulation and building fabric

• windows and doors

• solar PV potential

• battery storage

• air source and ground source heat pumps

• heating and cooling

• air-to-air heat pumps

• ventilation and heat recovery

• EV charging

• smart energy controls

• electricity tariffs

• available grants and funding

• planning considerations

• Building Regulations considerations

• future improvements and planned building work.

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The objective is to identify which measures deserve further investigation and which may offer relatively little benefit for your particular home.

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What information do we need from you?

 

Because this is a desktop assessment, we rely on information supplied by the homeowner together with information that can be researched remotely.

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We will normally ask you to provide:

• full property address

• photographs of the house

• photographs of principal rooms and relevant building areas

• photographs of the existing heating system

• photographs of electrical and energy equipment where appropriate

• current EPC, if available

• recent gas and electricity bills or annual consumption figures

• details of your current heating

• information about windows and insulation where known

• details of any existing solar, battery or renewable technology

• floor plans, if available

• information about planned extensions, loft conversions or refurbishment

• details of electric vehicles or planned EV purchases

• your priorities and approximate improvement budget.

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We will provide clear guidance on the photographs and information required.

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We look at your actual energy use

 

An important part of the assessment is understanding what the property currently consumes.

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That can include reviewing:

• annual electricity consumption

• annual gas consumption

• other heating fuels

• tariff information

• seasonal energy patterns

• EV charging where relevant.

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This helps move the assessment away from generic advice and towards the way your household actually uses energy.

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A home occupied all day can have a very different energy profile from one that is empty during working hours.

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Likewise, somebody planning to move from gas heating and petrol cars towards a heat pump and electric vehicle may have very different future electricity requirements.

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Building fabric and insulation

 

Before generating more energy, it is worth understanding how much energy the building may currently be wasting.

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The assessment can consider potential opportunities involving:

• loft insulation

• roof insulation

• cavity wall insulation

• solid wall insulation

• floor insulation

• draught reduction

• thermal bridging

• general building-fabric performance.

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We also consider whether the age and type of construction mean particular care may be required.

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This is especially important with older and traditionally constructed homes.

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Windows and doors

 

Windows and doors can affect:

• heat loss

• draughts

• comfort

• overheating

• ventilation

• appearance.

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But replacing windows purely for energy savings does not always represent the strongest return.

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We consider their likely condition and performance as part of the wider property rather than automatically recommending replacement.

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Solar PV potential

 

Where solar panels appear appropriate, we can consider factors such as:

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• available roof area

• orientation

• obvious shading

• roof form

• future roof alterations

• likely household electricity demand

• EV charging

• heat-pump potential

• battery-storage potential.

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The purpose is not to replace a detailed solar installer survey.

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It is to establish whether solar appears worthy of further investigation and how it could fit into the wider green home strategy.

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Battery storage

 

A home battery can be extremely useful in the right property.

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It can also be an expensive investment that provides limited benefit if poorly matched to the household.

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We can consider:

• daytime and evening electricity consumption

• existing or proposed solar

• likely surplus generation

• time-of-use tariffs

• future heat-pump use

• future EV charging.

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The aim is to establish whether battery storage appears to have a useful role and whether it should be considered now or later.

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Heat pump suitability

 

Heat pumps can form an important part of the transition towards lower-carbon heating.

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But they need to work with the building.

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Our desktop assessment can consider:

• existing heating system

• property type

• likely heat-loss issues

• existing radiators

• hot-water arrangements

• possible heat-pump location

• insulation improvements

• available grant support

• whether a heat pump should be considered immediately or as part of a longer-term plan.

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A detailed heat-loss calculation and final system design would still be undertaken by the relevant specialist before installation.

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Heating and cooling

 

A greener home also needs to remain comfortable.

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Increasing summer temperatures and overheating can make cooling an increasingly relevant consideration.

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We can review the possible role of:

• passive shading

• ventilation

• air conditioning

• reversible air-to-air heat pumps

• solar-powered daytime cooling.

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Where a system can provide both heating and cooling, it may have a much more useful year-round role than a conventional cooling-only system.

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Ventilation and heat recovery

 

As homes become better insulated and more airtight, ventilation becomes increasingly important.

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Depending on the property and level of planned refurbishment, we can consider:

• natural ventilation

• extract ventilation

• decentralised systems

• MVHR

• heat recovery.

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The objective is to improve energy performance without creating problems with indoor air quality or moisture.

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EV charging

 

Electric vehicles can substantially increase household electricity demand.

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If you already own an EV, or expect to purchase one, we can consider:

• likely home charging requirements

• possible charger location

• solar integration

• battery integration

• smart charging

• future second vehicles.

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This can influence decisions about solar system size and the wider electrical strategy.

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Tariffs and smarter energy use

 

Green technology is only part of the picture.

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How and when energy is purchased can also matter.

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Where appropriate, the assessment can consider the potential role of:

• time-of-use tariffs

• EV tariffs

• heat-pump tariffs

• solar export tariffs

• smart charging

• battery tariff shifting.

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The objective is not simply to install equipment.

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It is to help the home use energy more intelligently.

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Grants and funding

 

Available grants can significantly alter the economics of a green home project.

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As part of the assessment, we can identify relevant funding routes that may deserve investigation.

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Eligibility varies according to:

• location

• property

• technology

• household circumstances

• current government and local schemes.

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Grant availability can change, so any scheme identified will need to be confirmed before work is commissioned.

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Planning and Building Regulations

 

Some green home improvements can involve planning or Building Regulations considerations.

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Depending on the property, this might affect:

• solar panels

• ground-mounted solar

• heat pumps

• air conditioning

• listed buildings

• conservation areas

• insulation

• windows

• electrical installations.

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Our assessment can highlight areas where further planning, Building Control or specialist advice is likely to be required.

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Indicative costs

 

A Green Home Action Plan is more useful when recommendations are considered alongside likely expenditure.

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Where practical, we can provide indicative cost bands for the principal improvements being considered.

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These are intended for early budgeting rather than replacing contractor quotations.

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They help answer the question:

What could realistically be achieved with the budget available?

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Indicative savings and payback

 

Where sufficient information is available, we can also consider likely financial benefits.

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This can include issues such as:

• potential energy savings

• solar generation

• solar payback

• impact of insulation

• heat-pump economics

• battery-storage economics

• tariff opportunities.

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We do not promise a guaranteed saving.

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Energy use, tariffs, behaviour and future energy prices all change.

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The purpose is to provide a sensible basis for comparing different options.

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Your Green Home Action Plan

 

The most important part of the assessment is turning all the information into a practical plan.

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Recommendations can be divided into:

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NOW

Improvements offering an obvious or immediate benefit.

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NEXT

Measures worth planning over the next few years or in conjunction with other work.

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LATER

Longer-term improvements linked to events such as:

• boiler replacement

• roof replacement

• extension

• refurbishment

• EV purchase.

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This prevents homeowners feeling that everything has to be done at once.

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What you receive

 

Following our review, you receive a detailed Desktop Green Home Assessment Report and Action Plan setting out:

• the property reviewed

• information supplied

• current energy considerations

• potential fabric improvements

• heating and hot-water considerations

• renewable-energy opportunities

• solar potential

• battery-storage considerations

• heat-pump suitability

• ventilation and cooling

• EV charging

• tariffs

• grants to investigate

• planning and regulatory considerations

• indicative costs

• priorities

• recommended next steps.

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The report is yours to retain and can provide a useful starting point when obtaining specialist quotations.

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What the Desktop Assessment is not

 

The Desktop Green Home Assessment is an advisory professional assessment based on information supplied by the homeowner and information available remotely.

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It is not:

• a structural survey

• a Building Survey

• an EPC

• an electrical inspection

• a gas-safety inspection

• an asbestos survey

• a detailed heat-loss calculation

• a final renewable-energy system design

• an installer quotation.

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Individual technologies and building works remain subject to appropriate site inspection, detailed design and specialist verification before installation.

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Who is the Desktop Green Home Assessment suitable for?

 

It is particularly useful if you:

• want to make your home greener but do not know where to start

• are considering several different technologies

• want independent advice before obtaining quotations

• have a limited budget and want to prioritise expenditure

• are planning an extension or refurbishment

• expect to replace your heating system

• are considering solar and battery storage

• are moving towards an electric vehicle

• want to understand potential grants and funding

• live outside our normal on-site survey area.

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Because the service is completed remotely, it is available throughout the UK.

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How much does it cost?

 

Desktop Green Home Assessment — £495 + VAT

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This is a fixed professional assessment fee for a typical residential property.

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Unusually large or highly complex properties may require additional work, in which case this would be discussed before instruction.

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Before you spend thousands, spend time understanding the house

 

A homeowner can easily spend:

• thousands on solar

• thousands on batteries

• thousands on windows

• £10,000+ on heating

• considerably more on major retrofit work.

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Getting the order wrong can be expensive.

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The value of an independent Green Home Assessment is therefore not simply identifying what you could install.

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It is helping establish what you should consider installing, in what order and why.

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Start your Green Home Assessment

 

If you are thinking about improving your home's energy efficiency, reducing bills or investing in renewable technology, start with the property rather than the products.

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Desktop Green Home Assessment — £495 + VAT

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Available nationwide throughout the UK.

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GET YOUR GREEN HOME ASSESSMENT

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NEXT STEPS

Every home is different, so the right next step depends on your property, your budget and what you want to achieve. APN Green Homes can help you turn the information you have just read into a practical plan for your own home. Whether you are considering one improvement or looking at a complete whole-home energy upgrade, we can help you understand what is suitable, what should be prioritised and where your money is likely to make the greatest difference.

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Choose one of the options below to get the ball rolling:

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BOOK A GREEN HOME SURVEY
Get a detailed assessment of your home with practical, property-specific recommendations and a clear plan for the improvements worth considering.

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BOOK A PHONE CONSULTATION
Talk through your property, ideas and priorities with us and get some initial direction on the best way forward.

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EMAIL US
Send us details of your property, photographs or any questions and we can advise you on the most appropriate next step.

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GIVE US A CALL
Prefer to speak to someone? Give us a call and tell us what you are hoping to achieve.

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Your greener, more efficient home starts with understanding the right improvements for your property — and putting them in the right order.