01 Jun 2023

Nationwide launches tool to help homeowners understand how to make their properties greener

  • Home Energy Efficiency Tool gives homeowners information on how to make green home improvements
  • Tool provides an overview of measures that could be taken to save money and improve home’s EPC rating
  • Launches alongside Society’s 0% Green Additional Borrowing to help existing customers finance improvements

As part of efforts to help customers make their homes more energy efficient and reduce their energy bills, Nationwide Building Society is today (Thursday 1 June) launching a new Home Energy Efficiency Tool.

It will provide homeowners with information about the current energy use in their home, offer suggestions on how they could reduce their usage and save money on their energy bills and provide recommendations on energy-efficiency measures for their property.

The new tool, built with support from Energy Saving Trust, will be available to all homeowners, regardless of whether they are a Nationwide customer or not, and can be found here. It comes as the Society today launches its new 0% Green Additional Borrowing products via brokers and Nationwide’s mortgage advisers. It will enable up to 5,000 households with a Nationwide mortgage1 to borrow between £5,000 and £15,000 up to a maximum of 90 per cent Loan-to-Value (LTV) across a two or five-year product term2.

Nationwide’s 0% Green Additional Borrowing must all be used to fund non-structural, energy-efficient home improvements3, such as solar panels, air source heat pump, window upgrades, boiler upgrades, cavity wall insulation, loft insulation or an electric car charging point. Members can use any local or national contractor or supplier for the work.

The tool will outline cost, energy or carbon savings that can be made over the long term and potential home improvements that can be made based on a customer’s individual budget. It will provide a realistic view of what is needed to improve a specific property.

To get the required level of detail, the tool will ask homeowners simple questions about their home and their energy bills and use the information provided to generate an energy profile.          

This will then provide a view of what actions could be taken to save money and make their home warmer and more comfortable, highlighting the potential costs and impact on the energy efficiency of the property and its EPC rating.       

Nationwide is committed to sustainable housing, which is why the Society is leading the Green Homes Action Group – a collaboration of businesses and charities with a shared interest in making the UK’s home more sustainable through high quality retrofits.

Henry Jordan, Director of Home at Nationwide Building Society, said: “Our research tells us that people want to make green home improvements to lower their energy bills and make their property more energy efficient. But they need support. That is why we’re launch launching both this new home energy efficiency tool and our zero per cent Green Additional Borrowing.

“With the UK striving to reach net zero by 2050, the time to act to make our homes more energy efficient is now. We know we have a limited ability to reduce the emissions on the properties we lend on, but we stand ready to support and work with others, in the spirit of mutuality, to help ensure that no household is left behind. By providing both the information and the finance, we’re giving our customers every opportunity to take steps to improve the energy efficiency of their homes and make them warmer and more comfortable.”

Inga Jirgensone, Group Head of Business Development, Energy Saving Trust said: “If we are to reach net zero targets, homeowners will need to be supported and encouraged to invest in low carbon home improvements. This is a key part of Energy Saving Trust’s mission and we’re pleased to be working with Nationwide to provide a digital energy advice tool for their customers, to help them save energy and money.”

- Ends -

Notes to editors

1 Subject to eligibility and affordability checks. Only one 0% loan available per household.

2 The 0% rate is available for the initial deal period only (two or five-years), after which the product will revert to the Society’s Standard Mortgage Rate. However, members can switch at or shortly prior to maturity of the 0% green additional borrowing onto one of our standard switcher products.

3 Example improvements 

  • Solar panels
  • Cavity wall insulation
  • Pipe and boiler insulation
  • Window upgrade/replacement
  • Air source heat pumps
  • Ground source heat pumps
  • Investment in rainwater ‘harvestation’
  • Upgrading of existing utilities (e.g. lighting)
  • Small scale wind turbines
  • Electric car charging stations