Understanding your Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)

Current conversations on cost of living and climate change can often lead us to think about what we can do to save on our energy needs and costs.

However sometimes it is difficult to know where to go for information. A good start might be to take a look at the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) that was provided when you bought your home. If it was before 2008 your home may not have an EPC so it may be useful to have one carried out now.

What is an EPC?

An EPC shows the home’s current and potential energy rating with A being the most efficient and G being least efficient, and it lasts for ten years. The EPC will list the works that you could do to the home to make it more energy efficient and the cost savings you could make. You could do relatively simple things like putting in energy efficient light bulbs or insulating the hot water cylinder and installing heating controls on your heating system. More extensive improvements could involve putting in loft insulation or cavity wall insulation or perhaps installing new, more energy-efficient windows. You could also replace your boiler with a more energy efficient one or install a heat pump in your home. You might also consider installing solar panels on the roof of your home.

What should I do first?

Once you have looked at your EPC it is important to decide which improvements you want to make to your home. It may be that to save the most energy the work needs to be done in a certain order. For instance, it is generally more efficient to insulate your home before installing a new boiler or a heat pump. It is important to do your research into this to ensure you have all the facts before deciding what work to carry out.

How much do I need to spend?

Then, you should consider your budget for doing this. You should check out all the costs involved in doing the work. For instance it may be that you will have to redecorate rooms, depending on the nature of the work involved. You should also check out if there are any grants available towards the costs of undertaking the improvements to your home.

Do I need permissions and approvals?

There are several things to bear in mind when getting the work carried out. Do you need any approvals such as planning permission or building control, or do you need permission from your mortgage lender or anyone else? Think also about the person or company you want to do the work. Do they need or have any accreditations or are they members of a certain trade organisation? Will you be getting a certificate or guarantee for the work once it is complete. You should keep all the paperwork involved. Bear in mind that if you have installed something major such as a heat pump or solar panels you may need to have them serviced within a set period to keep any warranties effective.

Finally, if you have had major work carried out to the property you may wish to have your EPC refreshed once the works have been completed as your home should have a higher rating.