London's Best & Worst Boroughs for Energy Efficiency
We compared energy efficiency scores, costs, and the number of energy-efficient installations, like solar panels, across London to reveal the best and worst rated areas in the capital.
The latest 54% energy price cap increase has made households across the country more conscious of the benefits of energy efficiency.
Online behaviour mirrors this, with Google searches for ‘how to save energy at home UK’ increasing by 300%, and the number of people searching for how to ‘check the EPC rating of a property’ up by 250%!
One factor that makes a significant difference to your monthly bills if you’re a Londoner is where you live. Our research reveals that residents of the most affordable borough for energy pays 54.2% of the median bill of residents in the most expensive borough.
Another 50% increase is expected on the price cap in October, meaning energy-efficient homes will become more important than ever to prospective buyers.
Tower Hamlets saves the most energy
Tower Hamlets residents paid around £423 last year, 31% lower than any other London borough, and their properties also have the highest energy efficiency scores at 77. That’s almost 10 points higher than London’s 68.
Newham and Greenwich are in second place on the energy-efficiency scale, where residents pay under £500 a year.
| Most energy-efficient boroughs | Least energy-efficient boroughs |
| Tower Hamlets | Havering |
| Newham | Kingston Upon Thames |
| Greenwich | Bromley |
| Southwark | Richmond Upon Thames |
| City of London | Kensington & Chelsea |
Except for Kensington and Chelsea, the ten worst ranking boroughs are in Outer London. Havering is at the top of this list with a property efficiency score of 63 and residents in the area paying upwards of £780 per annum, making it the least energy-efficient borough.
Sustainable energy production in London boroughs
Despite being the London borough with the lowest median energy prices, Tower Hamlets lags on sustainable solar energy, with only Kensington and Chelsea seeing more houses per solar panel. Both Barking and Dagenham and Kensington and Chelsea have approximately 80,000 households, whereas the latter has just 127 panels installed, the former has 1,174.
The areas with the most solar panels:
| Council | Household to solar panel ratio |
| Barking and Dagenham | 70 |
| Havering | 71 |
| Waltham Forest | 72 |
| Bromley | 88 |
| Sutton | 93 |
5 Ways to save on energy bills at home
1. Don’t leave appliances on standby
It’s easy to use energy without realising it, no more so than by leaving appliances on standby. While it might seem like leaving an appliance on without operating it won’t use much energy, turning off plugs when not in use can save you significant amounts per year. British Gas estimates you can save £147 a year by turning off appliances.
2. Invest in energy-efficient appliances
Although it might seem counter-intuitive, paying more to pay less is often the rule for saving on energy. It’s not worth replacing a perfectly functioning appliance, but when you buy a replacement seeking out an appliance with at least an A rating will save you a lot of money in the long run.
For example, Money Supermarket reports that an A+++ washing machine will use £65 less than an A+ appliance per year. Similarly, A+++ fridges use roughly £320 less energy than A+ equivalents.
3. Install double glazing
Double glazing is an excellent way of making sure your property retains as much heat as possible in the colder months, meaning you don’t have to recourse to excessive heating as often. Again, it’s an investment with upfront costs, but you’ll reap the benefits when it comes to paying energy bills.
4. Upgrade your boiler
Many older boilers have very low-efficiency ratings. Given their importance for heating your home, an inefficient boiler can significantly affect your annual energy bill. Upgrading from a G-grade boiler can save a house as much as £300 on their yearly energy bill, amounting to a significant saving over time.
5. Install a smart meter
Smart meters allow you to control where heating in your home is being used so that you’re not unnecessarily using heating in areas no one is in. They are also controllable remotely, which is handy on cold days when you don’t want to wait for the heating to come on when you get inside.
Note: All energy prices are median