Understanding your Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
By: Co-Ownership
As the cost of living remains high concerns about climate change grow, many of us are looking for ways to cut energy costs and reduce our environmental impact.
With so much information out there, where do you start? One great place to begin is by understanding your home’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).
Whether you’ve just moved into a new home or have been living in the same one for years, your EPC can be a valuable tool. And if your home was purchased before 2008, it might be worth getting one done, as homes older than that won’t have an EPC yet.
What is an EPC?
An EPC is essentially a snapshot of your home’s energy efficiency. It grades your home on a scale from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient), and it’s valid for ten years. But it’s more than just a grade, it provides recommendations for improving energy efficiency and estimates the potential savings you could make by following these suggestions. Some of these improvements could be simple, low-cost fixes, such as:
- Installing energy-efficient light bulbs
- Insulating your hot water cylinder
- Adding heating controls to your current system
However, if you’re looking to make a bigger impact on your home’s efficiency, more extensive upgrades could include:
- Adding loft or cavity wall insulation
- Installing new, energy-efficient windows
- Replacing your old boiler with a more efficient model
- Installing a heat pump or solar panels
- Planning permission or building control approval for certain types of work
- Permission from your mortgage lender or anyone else
- Does the contractor need, or have any accreditations or are they members a certain trade organization
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 example, it is usually 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 get all the facts before deciding what work to carry out.
How much will it cost?
Costs will vary depending on the improvements you choose.
Some upgrades, like changing light bulbs and insulating your hot water tank, are affordable and you may wish to start here. Others, like installing solar panels, are a more significant investment.
Before you commit, it’s important to consider your budget and check if there are any grants available to help with the costs.
So, keep in mind any hidden costs, such as redecorating rooms after insulation work or repairs following installation projects. Factoring in these extras can help you stay on budget.
Do I need permissions and approvals?
Before you start any major improvements, make sure you’ve got all the necessary approvals in place. Here are a few things to consider:
Once the work is complete, keep all the paperwork, including warranties, certificates, and receipts. This could come in handy if you ever sell the property or need to make a claim under warranty.
What next?
Finally, if you have had major work carried out to the property it’s a good idea to have your EPC refreshed. A higher EPC rating could unlock new benefits, such as access to green mortgages, which often come with lower interest rates or cash back incentives for energy-efficient homes.