What is an EPC Certificate?
An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is a document required in the UK that assesses the energy efficiency of a building and its environmental impact. It assigns a rating from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient) based on the property’s energy usage and typical energy costs. It also includes recommendations for improving energy efficiency.
Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) provide critical insights into a building’s energy efficiency, helping homeowners, buyers, renters, and landlords make informed decisions. These certificates assess energy use, potential cost savings, and environmental impact.
Key details about EPCs:
Implementation
Rolling Millions is proud to have ECMK and Elmhurst-certified surveyors and assessors as part of our team. This certification ensures that our experts adhere to the highest standards in conducting Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) and building surveys. With trusted accreditation, you can rely on us for accurate, professional, and compliant assessments.
Implementing an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) involves several clear steps, from initiating the process to receiving the final certificate. Here’s how it works:
1. Engage an Accredited Assessor
Contact a qualified domestic energy assessor (DEA) or a non-domestic energy assessor (NDEA) for commercial properties.
2. Assessment Appointment
The assessor visits the property and conducts a detailed survey. They examine aspects like:
- Insulation: Walls, floors, roof, and loft spaces.
- Heating and Cooling Systems: Boilers, radiators, and air conditioning units.
- Windows and Doors: Double glazing or energy-efficient installations.
- Energy Consumption Factors: Lighting systems and renewable energy sources like solar panels.
3. Data Analysis
The data collected during the inspection is input into approved software, which calculates the property’s energy performance rating. This includes:
- An overall energy efficiency rating (A-G).
- CO2 emissions and environmental impact estimates.
- Recommendations for improving the energy rating.
4. Certificate Generation
The final EPC is generated, detailing:
- Current energy efficiency rating.
- Potential efficiency if improvements are made.
- Estimated annual energy costs and potential savings.
- A unique reference number (URN) is assigned.
5. Register and Delivery
The EPC is registered on the national database for England, Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland, depending on the property location. A copy is provided to the property owner or manager.
6. Implementation of Recommendations (Optional)
Property owners can act on suggested improvements to boost energy efficiency. This step is not mandatory but is encouraged, especially for rental properties needing to meet minimum energy standards.
7. Compliance and Display
For properties being sold, rented, or leased, the EPC must be available for potential buyers or tenants. Landlords and sellers must ensure compliance with legal requirements.
Find out everything you need to know about domestic EPCs in Elmhurst Energy informative video.
Elmhurst Energy is a leading accreditation body for energy assessors in the UK. They provide comprehensive support and certification for professionals conducting energy performance assessments, including EPCs. Elmhurst ensures that all accredited members meet high standards of expertise, accuracy, and compliance with government regulations.
Using Elmhurst-certified assessors ensures that homeowners receive trustworthy advice and accurate assessments to enhance property energy performance.
Where Do I Find An Existing EPC?
To find an existing EPC for a property, search its postcode on the following sites:
- For properties in England, Wales or Northern Ireland:
https://www.gov.uk/find-energy-certificate
- For properties in Scotland:
Frequently Asked Questions:
The energy efficiency rating
The energy efficiency rating will be displayed on an A to G scale. The least efficient buildings will be rated G and the most efficient will be rated A.
As well as a current rating for the property, a potential rating will also be shown, which is the energy efficiency rating after all recommendations have been applied to the property.
For England, Wales and Northern Ireland the current EPC rating will be shown at the top of the EPC.
The rating is actually based on cost factors such as the type of fuel used for heating, hot water, lighting and ventilation.
Currently if the property uses main gas it will score higher on the energy efficiency rating than a property which uses electricity. This is due to mains gas being cheaper per p/kWh than electricity.
Breakdown of a property's energy performance
The EPC will breakdown each building feature/element (Walls, Windows, Hot water) in terms of its energy performance, it does not consider the actual working condition of the feature.
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the scale moves from very good (most efficient) to very poor (least efficient), and is calculated from the energy efficiency cost rating and the environment (CO2) rating.
In Scotland however, each feature is scored out of 5 stars for its energy performance and environmental impact.
No rating is given for floors and secondary heating systems. Different descriptions will also be given for new build properties.
Environmental impact of the property
As with the energy efficiency rating, the environmental impact of the property is shown as an A to G rating.
This is once again based on assumptions about average occupancy and energy use. They may not reflect how energy is consumed by the people living in the property.
You can also draw comparisons with other households here and see the property’s potential production of CO2 following recommendations (this is shown as a rating for Scotland)
Recommendations/ Top Actions for improvement
You will be provided with a list of recommendations/recommended measures for improving the property’s energy performance.
The indicative cost (Scotland) or typical installation cost is based on average installation prices so may not be representative of the actual cost in your area.
The recommendations provided are cumulative meaning that they should be installed in the order they appear on the EPC to achieve the potential energy efficiency rating. Should you choose not to follow the order they appear in, the potential energy efficiency rating may change.
Scotland’s EPC will also show how recommendations will impact the environment rating after improvement.
Estimated energy use and potential savings
The estimated energy cost for the property shows how much the average household would spend in this property for heating, lighting and hot water. It is not based on how energy is used by the people living at the property.
Once again the potential saving is based on recommended measures being implemented.
Scotland Domestic EPCs will show the average and potential cost for heating, lighting and hot water over a 3 year period rather than yearly.
Also linked to this section is the heating use (or heat demand) in the property which shows the estimated energy use in kWh (Kilowatt hours) per year.
