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EPC

EPC

All domestic and commercial buildings in the UK must have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) before getting ECO 4 funding from the govt. or are available to buy or rent .

What are EPCs?

Much like the multi-coloured sticker on new appliances, EPCs tell you how energy efficient a building is and give it a rating from A (very efficient) to G (inefficient). EPCs let the person who will use the building know how costly it will be to heat and light, and what its carbon dioxide emissions are likely to be. 

The EPC will also state what the energy-efficiency rating could be if improvements are made, and highlights cost-effective ways to achieve a better rating. Even if you rent your home, some improvements noted on the EPC may be worth implementing, such as switching to more energy-efficient light bulbs. 

EPCs are valid for 10 years from when issued, and if your property has a certificate which is 10 years old (or will be 10 years old at the time of a letting/sale) you will need to arrange a new certificate. 

ECO particularly aims to help vulnerable homes and property holders. It uses a whole house approach to lower fuel poverty via improved heating systems and insulation measures funded through the energy companies.It also encourages the installation of first time Central Heating and district heating connections.

Why get an EPC?

Your property’s EPC needs to be available to apply for ECO 4 Govt. funding or to potential buyers as soon as you start to market your property for sale or rent. You must get an approved Domestic Energy Assessor to produce the EPC. 

If you implement any of the energy efficiency recommendations outlined in your EPC, you may wish to get a fresh EPC done to include these improvements. 

How An EPC Inspection Is Performed

One of our accredited assessors will visit your property at the agreed time and perform a thorough visual inspection. After noting down all the relevant details and measurements, the assessor will calculate an EPC rating. In order to calculate an accurate rating and prepare a full report, the assessor will need to be able to access every part of the property.

If you are a landlord and your tenant claims benefits or is on a low income you may encourage them to apply.

If you’re not on benefits or a low income but your home is still energy inefficient, you might be eligible for the scheme through flexible eligibility (LAFlex) program that some councils participate in.

The Procedure & The Factors

When assessing a residential, commercial or public building and calculating an EPC rating, the following factors will be taken into account by your assessor:

HEATING

The heating system installed in your property will have the most bearing on the EPC rating. In addition to noting the size and type of system installed, the assessor will note down the times that thermostats are set to turn the heating on and off and the temperature that each one is set to. It is important to leave each thermostat set to the times and temperatures that you normally use, otherwise the EPC rating will not reflect the true energy performance of your property.

LIGHTING

Details of the lighting fixtures in your property will be noted by the assessor, including the number and type of fixtures present in each room. If you have not already done so, it is a good idea to replace any incandescent or CFL lighting fixtures with LED ones as they will help to reduce energy consumption in your property. You could improve the energy rating for your home or commercial premises by a point or two, simply by following this advice.

WINDOWS

While heating will have the biggest impact on the final EPC rating, windows will play a bit part in the calculations too. Replacing any single glazing in your property with sealed, double-glazed units could help to improve the EPC rating significantly. The extra layer of insulation provided by double glazing makes buildings cheaper to heat in the wintertime because the property will be more energy efficient, which is good for your wallet and good for the environment as well.

LOFT INSULATION

This is another important factor in residential properties that the assessor will pay particular attention to. If there is currently no loft insulation in your property, a recommendation to have it installed is likely to be included in the report that you receive. It is estimated that as much as 33% of heat in a home can be lost through the loft if it is not properly insulated.

Other factors that the assessor will include in the EPC calculations include doors, hot water pipe insulation and any renewable energy technology that has been installed in your home or commercial property.

The Type Of Rating Included In An EPC Report

EPC ratings follow a similar format to the energy efficiency ratings that are given to modern kitchen appliances in the UK. Each property is awarded a rating between A and G, with A being the best rating possible and G the worst. If you want to let a property out in the UK, it needs to achieve a rating of C or better by 2025. If it does not, you could be liable to pay a substantial fine.