Energy Performance Certificates
What is it?
An Energy Performance Certificate provides a grading of the energy efficiency of the home in respect of the energy used for heating, hot water and lighting. To find out the rating of a house an energy assessment is carried out which collects information on the energy generating features – e.g. boiler, solar, immersion heaters, electric heaters, solid fuel and open fires etc.., and then looks at the insulating characteristics of the property, e.g. walls, roof and windows. The house is measured to obtain the floor areas and details are also collected about the fixed lighting and use of low energy bulbs. Once the site assessment has been carried out the information is entered into the approved software which generates a
SAP rating of between 0-100 for the energy efficiency. This is presented on the now familiar colour chart (as seen above) for easy reference of which energy efficiency band the house sits in. The closer to 100 the better the efficiency and the lower the energy bills will be. A rating is also given for the total CO
2 emissions impact of the home. Just as important, both the SAP and CO
2 scales also show the potential figure the house could achieve if all the recommendations in the EPC report were carried out.
The report contains a more detailed breakdown assessment of the house energy features, along with an explanation of the recommendations and the potential energy cost saving they would provide if installed.
When is it required?
In order to meet the Kyoto targets, The European Union set forth the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive which came into force in 2003. This requires that all buildings constructed, sold or rented must have available an EPC detailing it's energy performance. In the UK this has been implemented in the following ways (domestic housing):-
Houses for Sale (including new build) - EPC required as part of the Home Information Pack (see HIP contents)
House for Sale that are exempt from a HIP - EPC required as a stand-alone certificate from 1st Oct 2008- Rental Properties - EPC required from 1st Oct 2008 at a change of tenancy or new tenancy (see Landlord EPC)