DOMESTIC EPC CERTIFICATES
What is an Energy10553C Performance Certificate?
An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is a document providing information about a buildings energy usage and contains recommendations for how to make that building more energy efficient, reducing UK carbon dioxide emissions and in a time of escalating fuel costs potentially reducing bills. All homes bought, sold or let require an Energy Performance Certificate.
Is an Energy Performance Certificate Required?
Since their introduction on October 1st 2008, Property Owners in England and Wales have been required to provide Energy Performance Certificates to any prospective buyer or tenant when they build, sell or let domestic (residential) or commercial property.
All Domestic and Commercial properties for sale or rent will need to be surveyed by a qualified Energy Assessor, accredited to a professional body such as Stroma. A standard domestic property should take around half an hour at the property. The survey data is then fed into a computer system (called RDSAP for domestic and SBEM for commercial) and an Energy Performance Certificate generated from the computer model. This will rate the building’s efficiency on a scale from A to G and also show what rating could be achieved after a few improvements. This will assist in reducing CO2 emissions and help towards the UKs Kyoto agreement targets.
How is an Energy Performance Certificate produced?
Information about the materials used in the building such as wall construction, window types, insulation thickness or lack thereof along with information about heating and cooling the building are translated into information about energy efficiency and carbon emissions and summarised in two charts that show the energy used and carbon dioxide emission ratings. The charts look similar to those supplied on electrical appliances, such as fridges and washing machines.
