Older homes have charm; they also can be costly to heat and prone to cold drafts. But with the right combination of repairs, insulation, and smart controls, even century‑old properties can perform efficiently—without compromising character.

Here’s how you can improve energy performance, reduce bills, and maintain comfort across older homes.

1. Start with Regular Repairs and Maintenance

According to Historic England, properly repairing your home’s roof, external walls, windows, chimneys, and gutters is foundational for better energy efficiency. Neglecting these elements allows damp and draughts to form, making your home harder to heat.

That means fixing slipped roof tiles, repairing brick pointing, repairing rendering cracks, and clearing drains. These actions protect insulation effectiveness—while preventing damp and mould issues that sap energy and comfort (Historic England).

2. Draught‑proofing: A Simple, High‑Impact Step

Energy Saving Trust advice shows that draughts around doors, windows, chimneys and floors are a major source of heat loss. Effective draught‑proofing, even as a DIY project, can save up to £85 per year in GB.

Using simple sealants, swept draught excluders, and thermal curtains can dramatically reduce heat loss with minimal cost and disruption.

3. Insulation: Focus on Roof, Walls and Floors

• Loft insulation is among the most cost-effective upgrades. As recent data suggests, fitting 300 mm insulation can cost around £1,000 and save up to £470 per year—recouping your investment in 2 years.

• Solid wall insulation—internal or external—can also reduce heat loss significantly, though upfront costs are higher (£11,000+), with annual savings up to £550.

Insulating suspended or concrete floors similarly helps retain warmth and comfort, particularly in older homes with uninsulated cellar or flooring (Homebuilding, Energy Redress guide).

4. Heating and Controls: Optimise for Efficiency

Heating accounts for about half of a home’s energy consumption, according to retrofit research (Wikipedia – Sustainable refurbishment). Simple tweaks like turning down boiler thermostat settings to around 60 °C can save £65 annually (Financial Times).

Upgrading pumps, adding thermostatic radiator valves and investing in smart heating controls or zone-based systems can yield further gains. In some homes, integrating heat pump systems and smart energy management can unlock significant long-term bill reductions.

5. Lighting and Appliance Efficiency

Replacing incandescent bulbs with LED lighting can cut electricity use by up to 75%, and is a fast, low-disruption upgrade. Additional savings come by turning off standby appliances and using efficient hot water cylinder settings.

6. Take a Whole‑House Retrofit Approach

A comprehensive “whole-house” retrofit strategy—starting with maintenance and draught control, then insulation, then heating/renewables—to avoid unintended issues or wasted investment. This integrated approach helps older homes perform consistently and efficiently.

Tools like the UK Green Building Council’s Retrofit Tool help homeowners understand what upgrades to prioritise to lift EPC ratings and reduce gas demand by up to 20%.

Why It Matters in South‑East UK

Nearly half of UK homes were built before 1982—many before 1900—and a significant portion fall below EPC band C. These older properties often have dated heating, inefficient glazing and minimal insulation. Upgrades not only cut bills—but also enhance resale value, comfort and wellbeing.

How Barry Turner & Son Supports Older Homeowners

Whether you're in Bromley, East London, Kent or nearby, we offer:

• Expert maintenance and repair to eliminate draughts and moisture

• Insulation upgrades tailored to heritage or conservation-style buildings

• Smart heating and lighting controls fitted to existing systems

• Whole-house energy retrofits that align with grants like the Great British Insulation Scheme

• Step-by-step planning to minimise disruption and maximise long-term value

Our goal is simple: make older homes cosy, efficient and built for modern living—without losing their character.

What You Can Do Next

If you live in an older house and want to improve energy performance:

1. Book an on-site assessment, specially for older properties

2. Get a tailored retrofit plan—aligned with eligible grant schemes

Contact us today to begin—your older home can be warm, efficient and future-ready.