OVO Energy Experts: questions and answers

The visit will last for up to 2 hours, depending on the type and size of your property.

Yes, as the homeowner, we'll need you to be at home for the visit, so that you can tell us about your home in more detail. Someone over the age of 18 must be there for the whole visit otherwise we won’t be able to assess your home.

The top – your Energy Expert will begin their inspection in the loft (if you have one) and work their way down and around your home.

What's already there – they’ll take into account the type and age of your property, any extensions, and any other work that's been done.

Walls, windows, warmth – they’ll take a look at the thickness of the walls and windows and what condition they're in, and how you currently heat your home.

Outside – they'll also check as much of your property's "elevation" (the outside of the building) as they can.

Your Energy Expert may need to take photos of your home on the day. This is to help them recommend the right upgrades for your home. Your Energy Expert will also be able to answer questions you have about your home and energy efficiency on the day.

Here are a few things you might need to prepare:

• Have a boiler? Or a loft? It's useful to have access to them so the advice we give you is as informed as possible.

• Paperwork? Any documents on how you heat your home will also be useful. Things like maintenance manuals, service details, and warranties.

The Energy Expert is there to create your Home Health Report and Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). They don’t carry out any work on your property as part of the visit. However, your Home Health Report and EPC will give you detail about the recommendations. After you've got these, we'll be available to talk through this information with you if you need further guidance. You’ll find your dedicated Energy Expert telephone number in your Home Health Report.

The recommendations could include a range of upgrades: insulation, solar panels, low-energy lighting, draught proofing, heating controls, boiler upgrades, double-glazed windows and perhaps even heat pumps.

You’ll also discover quick wins to boost your home’s energy efficiency – easy upgrades like smart thermostats and radiator reflectors. And how small lifestyle changes can cut energy waste, such as switching to an air fryer and regularly defrosting your freezer.

We’ll also highlight any funding that's available and any trials we're running that might help you get started.

No, any changes listed in the report are just expert recommendations that we think will help you save energy and money.

Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) rate your home from A (very efficient) to G (inefficient), to show you how energy efficient it is.

As well as rating your home as it is right now, an EPC includes information on what your home's energy efficiency rating could be. It has recommendations for improvements and shows cost effective ways to achieve a better rating.

Some of the improvements may be simple, such as switching to more energy-efficient light bulbs.

You can find out more in the Energy Saving Trust’s guidance on Energy Performance Certificates.

There are many potential benefits to an EPC:

• Lower energy bills – you could lower your overall energy use and potentially reduce your energy bills, by following the recommendations and adding more energy-efficient measures to your home.

• Improve property value – if you're considering putting your home on the market, you need a valid EPC to sell your property. Improving your home’s energy rating could also improve its value.

• Lower mortgage – it might be possible to get lower mortgage rates through green mortgages.

• Lower your carbon footprint – increasing your property's energy efficiency could lower your carbon footprint.

• Access grants and funding schemes – if you plan to use government grants or local authority funding, you’ll often need an EPC.

Your EPC will have 2 main charts with the rating bands. The bands go from A to G, with A being the best rating your home can have, and G being the lowest. The potential rating shows what your rating would be if you were to carry out the recommended home improvements. The numbers in each rating reflect the government's Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) and go from 1 to 100 SAP points (100 being the highest).

An Energy Performance Certificate is officially valid for 10 years from the date it's issued.

The video appointment should last 20 minutes.

Our video call is our most convenient, lowest-cost option. It's available to everyone, everywhere – whether you own or rent your home. It's a 20-minute chat, so you get less time with an Energy Expert, and a shorter report emailed to you afterwards. You also don’t get the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) that’s included with a home visit. But you’ll still get loads of useful recommendations and tips on how to make your home more energy efficient and save money on your bills.

Please just make sure you're available at the appointment time you chose. We'll use Google Meet for the video call, so please check that you have a reliable internet connection and that your device's camera, speaker, and microphone are all working properly.

You’ll chat with an Energy Expert, a qualified domestic energy assessor, for 20 minutes about your home. They’ll ask you some questions and you’ll have the opportunity to ask your own too. They’ll give you practical advice and recommendations on how to make your home more energy efficient – and they’ll send you a brief personalised report after the call.

No, an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) isn’t included with a video call. However, you’ll get a personalised report with a summary of the call and recommended next steps. An EPC is only included with home visits, as they have to be carried out in person.