Chartered Surveyors North West

An EPC is required as part of a Home Information Pack (HIP) when selling property and as of 1st October 2008, when letting property too. Essentially, an EPC is an assessment of the energy efficiency of the home with particular regards to room space heating, lighting, hot water provision & heat retention.

The result is a certificate not dissimilar to that provided with electrical appliances such as washing machines and fridges, where energy efficiency is indicated by a coloured chart with ratings from A to G, an example of which is shown.

UK Government introduced EPC’s as one of a number of energy and cost-saving measures to make buildings more efficient. These measures are being applied across all European Union countries and are in line with the European Directive for the Energy Performance of Buildings.

The Energy Performance Certificate is part of these new measures to improve property efficiency. It includes suggestions to enable homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of the building which can mean lower energy bills for the occupiers, and could make homes more attractive to potential purchasers.

The certificate will also provide contact details for the Energy Savings Trust who can help you find out whether you could be eligible for grants or discounts to help carry out these improvements to your home. It will also list simple ways that changes in behaviour can save you energy and money - without the need for any works.

Almost 40% of the UK’s energy is consumed by our 25 million buildings. Even relatively minor changes in energy performance and the way buildings are heated and used can have a significant effect in reducing energy consumption and ultimately in reducing carbon emissions.

The energy effeciency rating is a measure of the overall efficiency of a home. The higher the rating the more energy efficient the home is and the lower the fuel bills will be.

The environmental impact rating is a measure of a home’s impact on the environment in terms of carbon dioxide emissions. The higher the rating the less impact it has on the environment.