The 5 steps to creating a modern eco home

Creating your eco home: at a glance

🏠 Our homes are responsible for ~22% of the UK's carbon emissions

❄️ UK housing is some of the most poorly insulated in Europe

☀️ A solar & battery system can cut your electricity bills by 86%, on average

🪟 Double glazing is a fantastic, multi-purpose home upgrade

🧠 Smart technology is a low-cost way to cut your energy usage

You don’t need to start from scratch to create an eco home. In fact, there are plenty of ways to transform your existing property into a sustainable, energy-efficient haven.

From using better insulation to installing green technology, we're going to outline five key home upgrades that will reduce your carbon footprint and cut your energy bills.

Spoiler alert: one of the upgrades we suggest is solar panels - naturally! To find out how much you can save with a solar & battery system, pop a few details into the form below and we’ll provide an estimate.

What is an eco home?

An eco home is a property designed to have a very small impact on the environment through minimal energy consumption, such as through extensive insulation and renewable sources of electricity.

And by using minimal energy for heat and power, eco homes also incur very low energy bills for their occupants.

While certain purists argue that a true eco home is one that has produced very low carbon emissions from the offset, i.e. even during construction, you can still make changes to an existing property and achieve an ‘eco home’ in the more casual sense.

Why do we need more eco homes?

Homes are responsible for about 22% of the UK's carbon emissions, according to the Energy Saving Trust, which makes our current housing stock a key area of focus if we are to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. 

And this contribution from UK homes is no surprise, given how poorly insulated they are; the median Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) score for properties in England and Wales sits at just 68 and 67 respectively - both in band D.

This subpar heat retention also means expensive energy bills, which are expected to stay high until at least the late 2030s. 

Improving the energy efficiency of our housing stock and creating more eco homes is key to combating climate change and keeping energy bills low. And this means action is required on both fronts, i.e. upgrading our 28.7 million existing homes, and constructing greener new builds.

How to make your property an eco home

An eco-friendly home makeover will make all the difference when it comes to your property's energy efficiency - and smart upgrades can yield big results.

Here are the five key areas to tackle for the biggest impact on your energy bills and carbon footprint.

1. Improve your insulation

Poor insulation is the biggest culprit behind heat loss in UK homes, which are among the least energy-efficient in Europe.

A large-scale study by the smart home company tado° found that, once outdoor temperatures drop to zero, UK homes lose an average of 3°C after five hours without heating, compared to just 1°C in Germany and 0.9°C in Norway.

This heat loss is both wasteful and expensive, driving up energy bills unnecessarily. But upgrading your home with better insulation will make your rooms warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.

Your property’s ability to keep the cold out and the warmth in is represented by its U-value, which essentially measures how much heat can escape through a structure - and the lower the U-value, the better.

To improve your home’s U-value, key areas to insulate include cavity walls, solid walls, floors, and roofs or lofts.

How much does insulation cost?

The cost of insulation varies depending on the type of insulation and the area of your home being insulated.

For a semi-detached house, cavity wall insulation typically costs around £2,700, while solid wall insulation is more expensive, costing approximately £11,000 for external walls and £7,500 for internal walls.

Suspended floor insulation costs around £4,700, while loft insulation is one of the most affordable options, costing between £700 and £900 for a semi-detached house.

These are hefty upfront costs, but the impact of insulation on energy bills is generally very good, making it a worthwhile upgrade for most homes.

2. Switch to solar

UK electricity bills are among the highest in Europe, according to the BBC, and they are expected to remain high until at least the late 2030s.

The Climate Change Committee also predicts that the country’s electricity consumption in 2050 will be more than double 2023 levels, mainly due to the widespread adoption of electric cars and heat pumps.

Despite the UK’s cloudy weather, solar panels are a tried and tested way to reduce your electricity bills and minimise your reliance on the grid. In fact, you could cut your electricity bills by 86% with a solar & battery system, on average. 

This figure is based on a sample of over 150 systems installed by Sunsave across England and Wales in 2024. The average system is 6.1kWp, with 54% of solar electricity used at home and 46% exported to the grid.

Solar panels are suitable for most UK properties, and rarely require planning permission.

How much do solar panels cost?

The cost of solar panels depends on multiple factors, including the size of your system and the quality of the hardware. 

Generally speaking, a three kilowatt-peak (3kWp) solar panel system (suitable for a two- or three-bedroom home) will cost about £9,000 - or £11,000 if you’re adding a battery. 

While there are solar panel grants like the ECO4 scheme available to help with the costs, the eligibility requirements are usually very limited.

If you’re interested in going solar but feeling put off by the high upfront cost, consider Sunsave Plus, which is the UK’s first solar subscription. It means you can switch to solar with no upfront cost, and instead pay a fixed monthly fee. 

Your system will also be protected by the Sunsave Guarantee, which includes 24/7 monitoring and maintenance, free replacement parts, downtime cover and insurance. 

To find out how much you could save with Sunsave Plus, enter a few details below and we’ll provide an estimate.

3. Install double glazing

The UK government estimates that around 18% of a property’s heat loss occurs through windows, which makes double glazing a must for any eco home.

Double glazing uses two panes of glass separated by a layer of air - or an inert gas like argon - which acts as an insulating barrier. This keeps more heat inside your home, and so reduces the energy needed to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature.

It’s also great for soundproofing, improving security, and reducing condensation, making it probably the most multi-purpose upgrade in this list.

How much does double glazing cost?

For the average three-bedroom house, double glazing costs between £8,000 and £15,000, depending on the number of windows and their size. You will also need to budget a few hundred pounds for labour costs during installation.

The type of frame you choose also affects the price, with the most common materials being uPVC, aluminium, and timber (in order of cheapest to most expensive).

4. Get a heat pump

A heat pump is an energy-efficient system that transfers heat from the air, ground or water outside your home to the inside, essentially working like a refrigerator in reverse. 

Heat pumps are three times more efficient than gas boilers, so they use significantly less energy to produce the same amount of heat. They’re also markedly greener than gas boilers, given they run off electricity, and 51% of the UK’s electricity came from renewable sources in 2024. 

And if you’re looking to go even greener, you can pair a heat pump with solar panels, meaning you won’t need to rely on the grid for all of your heating needs. 

A 2025 study by the UCL Energy Institute found that up to two-thirds of UK homes could install heat pumps without requiring additional upgrades, making them a viable option for many looking to create a modern eco home.

How much does a heat pump cost?

According to the Microgeneration Certificate Scheme (MCS), buying a heat pump and getting it installed typically costs around £12,500 - but you can cut this to £5,000 with the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which is open to people in England and Wales and runs until 31st December 2027.

5. Use smart technology

Smart technology is a blanket term for internet-connected devices that automate and optimise household tasks for convenience. You can also use smart technology to monitor your real-time energy, which helps you avoid unnecessary consumption.

Examples include:

• Smart meters, which monitor energy usage in real time
• Smart thermostats, which adjust heating and cooling based on your schedule
• Smart lighting systems, which turn off (or dim) lights in empty rooms
• Smart plugs, which allow you to control simple home devices (like lamps) remotely
• Smart irrigation systems, which help reduce energy and water waste

It’s also worth pointing out that smart meters are an essential requirement of any solar export tariff.

How much does smart technology cost?

Smart meters are free to install and they’re provided by your energy supplier. To get one, simply contact your supplier and request an installation.

However, other smart home technology does come with a cost. Checkatrade estimates that a simple smart home system that controls your lighting, heating, and security alarm could set you back between £5,000 and £15,000, depending on the complexity and the number of devices installed.

More advanced systems with extra features, like smart appliances or whole-home automation, can cost significantly more.

The upfront investment in smart technology can be high, but it offers long-term savings by reducing energy usage and improving energy efficiency - whilst also adding convenience.

Next steps

Fully transforming your property into an eco home is a surefire way to dramatically reduce your energy bills and contribute to a more sustainable future.

The five areas we’ve covered above are excellent ways to make a change, but this isn’t an exhaustive list - you’ll find dozens of other suggestions online, some more effective than others. 

And if you’re looking to kick things off by making the switch to solar, answer a few quick questions below and we’ll provide you with a savings estimate.

FAQs

What is the meaning of 'eco home'?

An eco home is a property designed to minimise its environmental impact by reducing energy consumption, carbon emissions, and waste.

While certain purists argue that a true eco home is one that has produced very low carbon emissions from the offset, i.e. even during construction, you can still make changes to an existing property and achieve an ‘eco home’ in the more casual sense.

How can I turn my house into an eco home?

To turn your house into an eco home, you need to focus on improving its energy efficiency. 

The five key ways to do this are: upgrading your insulation, switching to solar panels, installing double glazing, getting a heat pump, and using smart technology.

These changes will significantly reduce your energy bills and your home’s carbon footprint.