Energy Performance Certificates, The Facts
Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) inform on how to maximise energy efficiency in the home and lower carbon dioxide emissions. All homes bought, sold or rented require an EPC.
Energy Performance Certificates – what they tell you
EPCs contain:
Information on your home’s energy use and carbon dioxide emission
A report, known as a recommendation report gives suggestions to lower energy use and reduce carbon emissions.
Energy use and carbon dioxide emissions
EPCs contain ratings that give a comparison between energy efficiency and CO2 emissions, it also gives you possible ratings that could be achieved. Ratings are calculated by estimating energy efficiency and amount of carbon dioxide there would be if energy saving measures were utilised.The rating measures the energy and carbon emission efficiency of your home using a grade from ‘A’ to ‘G’. An ‘A’ rating is the most efficient, while ‘G’ is the least efficient. The typical efficiency grade to date is ‘D’. All homes are measured using the same calculations, so you can compare the energy efficiency of different properties.
Around 27 per cent of the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions come from domestic homes. Carbon dioxide adds to the burden of global warming.
The recommendation report
EPCs also provide a detailed recommendation report showing what you could do to help reduce the amount of energy you use and your carbon dioxide emissions. The report lists:
Suggested improvements, like fitting loft insulationPossible cost savings per year, if the improvements are made.
How the recommendations would change the energy and carbon emission rating of the property
These recommendations are not compulsory, but if acted upon, could enhance your property and make it more marketable for sale or rent by being more energy efficient.
The certificate also contains:
Detailed estimates of potential energy use, carbon dioxide emissions and fuel costs.
Details of the person who carried out the EPC assessment
Who and where to contact in case you choose to complain
What an EPC looks like?
There are charts that highlight the energy and carbon dioxide emission ratings. The charts look similar to those supplied on electrical appliances, like fridges and washing machines.
How to get an EPC?
You should receive an EPC when you are either buying or renting a property. You’ll need to provide one if you are selling or letting your home.
Which buildings need an EPC?
An EPC is a must when a building is being rented, sold or being constructed. A building will need an EPC if it has a roof and walls and uses energy to ‘condition an indoor climate’. This means it has heating, air conditioning or mechanical ventilation. For example, a garden shed would not need an EPC if it doesn’t’t have any heating. The building can either be a whole building or part of a building that has been designed or altered to be used separately. If a building is made up of separate units, each with its own heating system, each unit will need an EPC.
Which buildings don’t need an EPC?
The following buildings don’t need an EPC when they are built, rented or sold:
Places of worship Temporary buildings that will be used for less than two years
Standalone buildings with total useful floor area of less than 50 metres squared that are not used to provide living accommodation for a single household Workshops, Industrial sites, agricultural buildings and non-residential buildings, generally places of low energy use.
EPCs for business premises
Owners of all commercial buildings also have to provide an EPC when they sell or let commercial premises.
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