ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTICATES
What is an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)?
It is calculated that energy consumption of homes in the UK account for between 25-30% of the total CO2 emissions of the UK and that up to 90% of this energy consumption is due to heating requirements. It, therefore, makes good financial sense for households to try to reduce their energy bills whilst also helping to reduce their CO2 emissions. The government estimates that an average home could save up to £300 a year on fuel bills.
The European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive 2002/91/EC requires that by 2009, all buildings in the UK that are constructed, sold or rented out have to have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). In the UK, domestic rented properties have also needed an EPC for all new tenancies since 1st October 2008.
The EPC is similar to the certificates which are now familiar on refrigerators, washing machines and also new cars. It provides you with a rating for the building, showing its energy efficiency and its environmental impact on a scale from A-G (where A is the most efficient and G the least efficient), in graphical format. It also contains recommended ways to improve the building's energy performance.
The energy-efficiency rating is a measure of a home's overall efficiency. The higher the rating, the more energy-efficient the home is, and the lower the fuel bills are likely to be. The environmental impact rating is a measure of a home's impact on the environment in terms of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions - the higher the rating, the less impact it has on the environment.
Each rating is based on the performance of the building itself and its services (such as heating and lighting), rather than the domestic appliances within it. The certificate also lists the potential rating of the building if all the cost-effective measures suggested were installed.
The ratings will vary according to the and condition of the building. The potential rating on the certificate will also take into account age, location and size and the suggested measures will be tailored so that they are realistic for the particular building.
An EPC is a compulsory part of a Home Information Pack (HIP). The certificate can be compiled only by an accredited Domestic Energy Assessor such as Oxford Energy Assessors Ltd or a Home Inspector, who visit the property to collect the relevant data and create the certificate. This data includes the date, construction and location of the house and relevant fittings (heating systems, insulation and double glazing, for example) and so access is needed to all rooms as well as the roof space and boiler. The survey should take around 1-2 hours depending on the size of the property.
Following the survey, the results are filed with Landmark from where it can be accessed by authorised personnel.
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