An Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) provide information on how energy efficient your home is and its level of carbon dioxide emissions. If you are selling or renting a home in the United Kingdom, you are required by law to have one.  An EPC will also advise you to make your home more energy efficient and reduce your carbon dioxide emissions, therefore saving money.  Find out what an EPC looks like and what information they contain.

EPC

Energy Efficiency and Carbon Dioxide Emissions

An EPC will judge the energy efficiency and carbon dioxide emissions of  property by giving it a rating. This rating falls into a grade between ‘A’ and ‘G’ with ‘A’ being the top rating.

Energy rating a building is a complex calculation that is based on a combination of
factors. The key factors are:

• the type of construction of the building (including walls, roofs, floors and glazing)
• whether parts(zones) of the building are used for different purposes eg office, garage, and the occupancy profile for the property
• heating, cooling, ventilation and hot water systems used
• lighting.

Recommendations

As well as the current rating for your property, an EPC will also give you potential rating that could be achieved if you were to carry out the energy saving measures laid out in the recommendation report that accompanies an EPC. The report shows what you could do to help reduce the amount of energy you use and your carbon dioxide emissions. This would include suggested improvements such as fitting loft insulation and fitting draught excluders to windows and doors. The report would indicate the possible cost savings you could benefit from each year, if the suggested improvements were made.

You are not obliged to act on the recommendations in the recommendation report. However, should you decide to do so, it would almost certainly make your property more attractive to a potential purchaser or tenant, by making it more energy efficient.

You can order your EPC online now for only £49 plus vat