Energy Performance Certificates

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 Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are a crucial component of the new Home Information Packs (HIPs) being introduced in 2007 across the UK. What information will you be able to get from an EPC?

What are Energy Performance Certificates?

Home Information Packs are being rolled out across the UK during 2007, and should become a requirement when selling a house by the end of the year. HIPs must contain information on the energy efficiency and environmental impact of the house, in the form of an Energy Performance Certificate. To get an EPC for your house, you will need to pay for a House Inspector or Domestic Energy Assessor to check your house out, and produce a certificate for you.

What do Energy Performance Certificates tell you?

EPCs are very clearly laid out, starting out with a nice colourful picture that indicates where your home lies on the energy performance scale. Basically, homes are rated on a scale A-G, where A is the top grade, and means the environmental impact is minimal. Energy efficiency and carbon dioxide emissions are rated separately.

As well as showing you where your house currently lies on the rating scale, the certificate shows its potential energy performance rating, if you make some recommended improvements.

This is followed by some numbers, telling you the current and potential energy used per square metre of floor space and annual carbon dioxide emissions. It then points out how much money you could save by improving energy efficiency, by estimating your current and potential annual bills for heating, lighting and hot water.

This is followed by some details about how your home's energy performance was assessed. Individual components of the house, including the roof, walls, floors, windows and heating systems are listed, and briefly described. For example, a typical house may be described as having uninsulated cavity walls, 50% of windows double glazed, no loft insulation, and a thermostat for central heating.

Energy Performance Certificates list potential improvements

Finally, the EPC suggests various home improvements that would help you to reach the ‘potential' energy performance rating. These may include insulating the walls, fitting double glazing and installing solar panels. The certificate should indicate the costs of each improvement, and how much it should save you on energy bills. It may also give some practical advice about the improvements, for example, is it a DIY job or do you need to call in professionals?

Will Energy Performance Certificates affect house sales?

Currently, no one knows whether the introduction of HIPs and EPCs will affect house prices, but given the shortage of housing, most people doubt that they will. A low EPC may encourage a buyer to put in a lower offer at first, but if they really want the house it is unlikely to put them off in the long run. Houses are more often bought on the basis of location or period features than on energy efficiency.