Benefits
Learn about the energy performance of your home
Find areas of improvement
Changes you can make to save money as well as reduce emissions
What is an EPC certificate?
Like the multi-colored stickers on the new appliances EPCs (EPCs) will tell you how energy-efficient a house is, and provide an A (very effective) from A (very efficient) to (inefficient). They’ll also tell you how expensive it will cost to warm and light your home and also how much carbon dioxide emissions could be.
An EPC contains information on the kind of energy efficiency score could be if you had made the required improvements. It also highlights efficient ways to earn an improved rating. Even if you lease your house, you can nevertheless make improvements as noted in the EPC by changing to energy-efficient lighting bulbs.
EPCs last for 10 years after the date of issue.
What is the reason to get an EPC?
The property’s EPC should be made available to prospective buyers from the moment you begin to promote your property for rent or sale. You need to find an energy assessor who is certified domestically to create the EPC. If you are buying or renting a house the EPC permits you to assess how energy efficient various properties in a matter of minutes.
An EPC will also highlight the energy efficiency improvements you can implement, the amount they’ll cost, and the amount you can save. This is useful when you’re looking to upgrade your existing property or to purchase and enhance your property.
Be aware that any estimates of energy consumption and savings potential are for a typical household within the home – they’ren’t specifically tailored to you, your housemates or family members or your way of life.
If you adopt one or all of the efficiency guidelines that are outlined in your EPC You may want to upgrade your EPC that incorporates these enhancements.
What will you find in your EPC?
It’s important to remember it’s not the case that all EPCs have the same appearance. In this tutorial we will use an EPC from 2017 to illustrate. The older certificates will contain the majority of the information, but it might appear different and could have a different order.
It is important to note it is important to note that EPCs located in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are currently using new formats, which is different from the model we’ve used in this article from Scotland. The sections and the information provided are similar.
Who creates EPCs and energy reports?
England, Wales and Northern Ireland
For England, Wales and Northern Ireland only licensed domestic energy assessors can issue valid EPCs.
If you’re renting or selling your home via an estate broker they might be able to organize for an EPC being completed on your behalf.
Scotland
In Scotland only those which have been approved from the Scottish Government are able to issue valid EPCs.
If you’re selling your house through a sales agent, you must request an Home Report (which will include an energy report as well as EPC) that is completed.
Energy reports are only created by chartered surveyors that are who are registered with RICs.
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