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What is an Energy Performance Certificate? Energy Performance Certificates (EPC’s) were initiated by the EU in January 2003 and were introduced in the UK in August 2007. They are an important part of the Home Information Pack (HIP) and tell prospective buyers about the energy performance of your house. Your house is given a rating between A-G (similar to those found on domestic appliances such as fridges and freezers) based on such factors as the age and size of the property, type and age of your boiler, heating and hot water controls, amount of insulation present etc. The certificate gives two ratings: 1. Energy efficiency rating - this indicates the overall efficiency of your home. The higher the rating, the more energy efficient it is. It also indicates the potential for improvement. 2. Environmental impact rating - this indicates your home's impact on the environment in terms of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions as well as the potential for improvement. The higher the rating, the less impact it has on the environment. The average property in the UK falls within bands D-E for both ratings Why do we need Energy Performance certificates? Domestic homes account for 27% of the UK's CO2 emissions! These carbon dioxide emissions contribute to climate change and even small improvements to the energy efficiency of our homes could result in a significant reduction in these emissions. The certificate will advise you on which energy measures - ranging from thicker loft insulation right through to solar panels - could cut carbon emissions from your home and improve your energy rating. Do buyers care how energy efficient my home is? Yes - research shows that buyers are willing to pay more for an environmentally friendly house - and that 70% consider energy efficiency to be important when buying a home. What will an Energy Inspection involve? Your inspection will be carried out by a qualified and accredited Domestic Energy Assessor. A typical inspection will take about an hour for a 3-4 bed property – longer if it is a larger house, or one with any unusual features. We will make a plan of the property and take some internal and external measurements and photographs of relevant features. We will need access to all rooms in the house and your loft (if you have one) as well as your boiler, hot water tank and meters. The assessment is not intrusive however and we will not move items of furniture for example. We will then take the information away and create the certificate – it should be available to you in electronic format within 24 hours or less. How much will it cost? The EPC is included in the price of the HIP. If you would just like to order an EPC please contact us for a quotation. |
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