A home's energy efficiency and carbon emissions may be easily determined with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). Additionally, it's a prerequisite if you're developing, promoting, or leasing a residential or commercial property. The certificate provides a helpful description of your property and makes suggestions for changes you may do to raise your EPC rating by utilising bands that range from "A" to "G" to represent the performance of your building.
What are the energy efficiency bands?
You may quickly assess the performance of your home using the energy efficiency bands. There are seven of these bands on an EPC, and they are rated from “A” (the most energy efficient) to “G” on a sliding scale (the least efficient). Additionally, they are color-coded for convenience, ranging from dark green (an “A” rating) to red (a “G” grade). The majority of dwellings in the UK are in the “D” band.
You’ll receive a ranking for environmental effect in addition to energy efficiency, with the greatest rating being a “A” (with a light blue colour) and the poorest rating being a “G.” (with a dark grey colour).
How are the energy efficiency bands calculated?
A skilled assessor will visit your house to look at a number of elements in order to better understand how energy is utilised in your home before determining your energy efficiency band. This entails assessing any possibility for heat or energy loss, evaluating the home for insulation, assessing the effectiveness of the heating and water systems, and checking for double glazing and energy-efficient light bulbs, among other things.
According to its effectiveness and state, each component of their inspection will be awarded a score. The assessor will then determine the property’s energy efficiency and give your home an EPC grade.
These are evaluated using a scoring system that operates as follows:
- EPC rating A = 92-100 SAP points
- EPC rating B = 81-91 SAP points
- EPC rating C = 69-80 SAP points
- EPC rating D = 55-68 SAP points
- EPC rating E = 39-54 SAP points
- EPC rating F = 21-38 SAP points
- EPC rating G = 1-20 SAP points
Following this, you will receive an Energy Performance Certificate that details your property’s energy efficiency and environmental effect.
A complete assessment of your property, anticipated energy consumption, carbon dioxide emissions, fuel expenses, and suggestions for how to make improvements to your property are all included in the report.
What does this mean for your property?
Don’t freak out if an EPC was done on your property and the findings weren’t what you were hoping for. There are many methods to increase your home’s energy efficiency and thus raise your rating, and many of them are rather affordable.
For instance, you may install a smart electricity metre, switch to LED light bulbs, think about upgrading your boiler, install double glazing, and consider utilising solar energy whenever it is practical.
The EPC is subject to ever-stricter regulations and is required by law in both the commercial and residential sectors, which is another crucial point to remember.
