Salford has been named the third most energy efficient local authority in England and Wales, with 68.87% of assessed homes rated C or above, new research has revealed.

The study, by sheet materials supplier Cut Plastic Sheeting, analysed 93,842 domestic energy performance certificates lodged across Salford over the last ten years.

Using data from the Energy Performance of Buildings Register, the proportion of homes rated C or above and the proportion rated below C was calculated for each local authority, covering certificates issued between January 2016 and December 2025.

Of the 93,842 certificates assessed in Salford, 68.87% (64,627 homes) were rated C or above and 31.13% (29,215 homes) were rated below C.

Energy Performance Certificate breakdown:

A: 602 homes (0.64%)
B: 23,539 homes (25.08%)
C: 40,486 homes (43.14%)
D: 21,579 homes (23%)
E: 6,269 homes (6.68%)
F: 950 homes (1.01%)
G: 417 homes (0.44%)
Within the North West, which records an average of 52.24% of homes rated C or above, Salford ranks as the second strongest performing local authority in the region behind Knowsley (70.11%), sitting 16.62 percentage points above the regional average and 17.20 percentage points above the national average of 51.66%

Across England and Wales as a whole, of the 15,570,378 certificates assessed, 51.66% (8,044,351 homes) were rated C or above and 48.34% (7,526,027 homes) were rated below C.

In 156 local authorities, the majority of assessed homes currently fall below the C rating that landlords are now required to meet by October 2030.

Daniel Southern, Managing Director at Cut Plastic Sheeting, commenting on the study, said: “Salford stands out as one of the strongest performers across England and Wales, ranking third out of 346 local authorities and well above both the national and regional average, but the scale of the energy efficiency challenge remains stark. With nearly half of all assessed homes currently falling below the C rating that landlords are now required to meet by October 2030, there is a significant amount of work to do, and the gap between the best and worst-performing areas is striking.

“There are a range of improvements homeowners and landlords can make to improve a property’s energy performance, from low-cost measures like draught proofing, low energy lighting and hot water cylinder insulation, as well as larger investments such as loft insulation, upgraded heating controls and solar panels.

“Windows are one of the biggest sources of heat loss in older properties, and for many homeowners and landlords, full window replacement is not always practical or affordable. Secondary glazing is worth considering as a more accessible alternative, and one that can have a meaningful impact on a home’s heat retention.”