Energy Performance Certificates

 

On average moving up one EPC rating band could save around £250 per year.

Homes with the highest EPC rating ‘A’ can be worth up to £40,000 more compared to the lowest ‘G’ rating.

This is sometimes called the Green Home Premium.

-Halifax; Energy efficiency improvements for older homes

EPC Q&A

  • Commonly known as an EPC, an Energy Performance Certificate will confirm how energy efficient a property is, based on the properties age, construction type, size, lighting, heating and ventilation systems installed.

    An EPC will score a property between 1-100 and grade between A-G.

    ‘A’ being very energy efficient and ‘G’ being not energy efficient.

  • It is a legal requirement for any property being advertised for sale or to let, or a property currently in use as a rental to have a valid EPC.

    An EPC will remain valid for 10years, at which point a new EPC will be required.

    The current minimum legal energy efficiency standards (MEES) for rental properties is an ‘E’ rating.

    From 2025 under current proposals, all new rental properties will be legally required to have a rating of ‘C’ or above.

    All existing rental properties will need to meet the legal minimum ‘C’ rating by 2028.

  • EPCs will estimate a properties current energy costs and its Carbon emissions.

    EPCs will recommended improvements to increase the energy efficiency of your property with estimated installation costs and potential fuel savings following installation of the recommendations. A potential EPC rating will be given based on the recommended measures listed.

    Obtaining an EPC will require an accredited energy assessor to survey your property, complete the data entry on approved software and lodge the EPC for it to be recorded on to the Governments online EPC register.

  • EPCs give a generalised energy rating rather then an ‘in use’ rating.

    This means that EPCs do not consider how a property is used by its occupants. This includes things such as how often and how long heating, lighting and appliances are used for.

    An EPC will not include an assessment of the condition of the property, where for example, roof tiles are missing and there is water entering the roof space, or if existing ventilation is adequate and in full working order. These failings could have a negative impact on any new upgrade measures.

    If you would like a more detailed assessment of how you actively use your home and wish to achieve the best outcomes for any upgrade works, please refer to our Whole House Retrofit services or contact us to discuss your requirements in more detail.

If you wish to improve your property to meet a target EPC rating then following the EPC survey, an IOE (improvement options evaluation) can be undertaken. The IOE will show suitable measures and thier individual impact on the EPC, thier estimated installation costs and fuel/carbon savings. Once appropriate individual measures are agreed, a group of measures can be formed into a package to achieve the EPC requirements.

The above is suited to properties which have changing occupancy, such as rental properties. Should you wish for a more tailored assessment which would look at your actual behavioural impacts and realistic fuel bills, then please read our ‘Retrofit Services’ page by clicking the link below.