The survey that each MSP is receiving the industry-standard National Home Energy Rating (NHER).The NHER takes into account the local environment and the effect it hason the building's energy rating. The NHER calculates the costs of spaceand water heating, but adds cooking, lights and appliances to give acomprehensive picture of energy usage in the home. After beingsurveyed, your home will be given a rating between one and ten (tenbeing the highest) and you will also be given information on what youcan do to improve your home’s score, how much it might cost and whatkind of payback time you might expect. 

NHERsurveys are available to anyone and are often subsidised or offeredfree by local authorities.  To find out more about getting a surveydone on your home, call the Energy Saving Trust on 0800 512 012.

There are also simple, free online audits available. The Energy Saving Trust has one on its website.

• The rules : the Home Energy Challenge explained
• The contestants: meet the Home Energy Challenge contestants
• Climate-friendly living: how to cut your own emissions