Frequently asked questions
What is an Energy Performance Certificate?
Energy Performance Certificates for dwellings
An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) provides a rating for the energy
performance of a building. The ratings are standard so the energy efficiency
of one building can easily be compared with another building of a similar
type. EPCs are similar to the certificates now provided with domestic
appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines. They give building
owners, occupiers and purchasers information on the energy efficiency
and carbon emissions of their building.
The EPC rates the energy efficiency and carbon emissions of a property
on a scale of A to G, where A is the best.A recommendation report is attached
to the certificate, providing information about ways to improve the energy
efficiency of the property.
The certificate also shows the rating that could be achieved if all the
recommendations were implemented.
When will Energy Performance Certificates become law?
Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are being introduced in phases,starting with residential properties. If you are selling your home, an EPC is required as a compulsory part of the Home Information Pack (HIP). Privately or socially rented homes will need to have an Energy Performance Certificate from 1 October 2008. EPCs for commercial buildings will be introduced from 6 April 2008.
When do I need to have an Energy Performance Certificate?
EPCs are only needed for buildings when they are constructed, sold or
rented.
It is the responsibility of the person selling or renting a building to
have a valid EPC to show to prospective buyers and tenants. The EPC must
be given to the eventual buyer or tenant. There is no requirement to get
an EPC for buildings that are just being occupied normally other than
when they are being sold or let.
How do I get an Energy Performance Certificate?
EPCs can only be produced by an accredited Energy Assessor. They may be employed by a company (such as Ours or Conveyancing Solicitors or energy company)or be independent traders. Always check they operate as part of an accreditation scheme, as this ensures your Energy Assessor is operating to professional standards. EPCs can only be produced using a Government approved software programme that uses standard energy rating methods.
What does an Energy Assessment involve?
An accredited Energy Assessor needs to visit a property to conduct an energy assessment. During the assessment they collect information on the property, which includes details of its dimensions, construction and heating/hot water provision. This information is fed into the approved software programme which produces the EPC and recommendation report.
What sort of recommendations will be made and what do they mean?
The recommendations include a list of cost-effective improvements which
will improve the energy efficiency of a property. For each improvement
it shows the approximate cost, typical cost savings per year and the performance
rating after improvement. Examples of cost-effective improvement recommendations
for a home
could include the use of low energy light bulbs, loft insulation and cavity
wall insulation.
Do I have to act on the recommendations?
You are under no obligation to act on the recommendations. However, acting on the recommendations is likely to improve the energy efficiency of your property, reduce your fuel bills, cut carbon emissions and could make the property more attractive to potential buyers or tenants in the future.Top
Energy Performance Certificates for New Builds
From 6 April 2008 it will be law to provide an Energy Performance Certificate
for all new and newly built homes that are completed after that date.
An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) gives information on the building’s
energy efficiency.
What does this mean in practice?
If you are a builder, you will most likely be working to the Building Regulations that were revised in 2002 and amended in 2006. As part of this you will be providing an energy rating to building control for your new homes using SAP (Standard Assessment Procedure).
For all homes that are physically completed on or after 6 April 2008, there will be a requirement to provide an EPC to the owner, with evidence shown to Building Control.
If you do any building work to a home which creates (or combines) a separate dwelling* that has heating, hot water or air conditioning, then you will need to provide an EPC for the home(s). When you finish your building work, Building Control ask you to submit a notice which includes an energy rating to demonstrate your building complies with the Building Regulations. By the same date on the notice, you must get an EPC from an accredited On Construction Energy Assessor, give the EPC to the owner of the building and tell building control that this has been done. This is what you have to do under the Building Regulations, Approved Inspector Regulations and the Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations, and Building Control will not give you a final completion certificate until they are sure that everything has been done. If the completed home is being advertised for sale, the EPC is available to include in a Home Information Pack for potential buyers, for the next 12 months.
A separate dwelling is one which is suitable for separate occupation by an independent household and may have its own front door and its own cooking and washing facilities. Applies to work under 2006 Building Regulations.
Energy efficiency and new homes
In 2006, the Government in England and Wales introduced new Building Regulations which raised the energy efficiency standards which new homes must meet. New homes that are built to meet these regulations save more energy, have lower carbon emissions and cost less to run. In order to meet the Building Regulations, builders need to make sure that any new homes they build meet a minimum target for energy performance.
Why do we need Energy Performance Certificates?
Energy Performance Certificates tell owners and potential buyers and
tenants about the energy efficiency of a home and how it can be improved.
The SAP rating shown on the certificate is the same number as is needed
for Building Regulations but it is shown in a format similar to the energy
labels that are now often used for many appliances and cars. The Environmental
Impact rating is also shown, which shows how much CO2 the home is expected
to generate through its energy use.
All EPCs come with a Recommendation Report which includes advice and suggestions
on improvements you could make to save money and energy. The certificate
also shows the rating that could be achieved if all the recommendations
are followed. In the case of new homes, you will get a shorter Recommendation
Report which contains more advanced energy improvements such as solar
panels. This is because most money-saving improvements will have already
been included in the design of the home (so the actual and potential ratings
are likely to be very similar).
Providing information about energy for homes that have not been built yet (off-plan sales).
If you are selling a home before it has been built, you will need to provide information about energy efficiency in a Predicted Energy Assessment (PEA). This is simply the predicted SAP and Environmental Impact (CO2) rating from the SAP calculations you do at the design stage, to check whether you will meet energy saving targets.
If the home is completed on or after 6 April 2008, you will need to give the owner a full EPC and Recommendation Report once the property is completed.
How do I get an Energy Performance Certificate?
By law, Energy Performance Certificates can only be produced by an accredited On Construction Energy Assessor.* The accreditation schemes protect builders and potential homeowners by making sure Energy Assessors have the appropriate skills to carry out energy assessments, and that EPCs are always of the same high quality. So that they can produce an EPC, the On Construction Energy Assessor will need to use an approved version of the SAP software. . Energy Performance Certificates must be registered and stored in the national register at www.EPCregister.com. with a unique reference number. This must be done by the On Construction Energy Assessor in conjunction with their accreditation scheme. All of our Engineers, Home Inspectors and Energy assessors are fully accredited and carry full Professional Indemnity insurance.
Contact us for a quote.
An On Construction Energy Assessor will not need to visit the property to produce an EPC. The EPC will be the result of the As Built check which is an extension of the SAP calculation needed for Building Control.
Energy Performance Certificates for Non-dwellings
When Energy Performance Certificates are required
From 6 April 2008 those buildings with a total useful floor area greater
than
10,000m2 (see glossary of terms for a definition) will require an Energy
Performance
Certificate on construction, sale or let.2
From 1 July 2008 those buildings with a total useful floor area greater
than 2,500m2
(see glossary of terms for a definition) will require an Energy Performance
Certificate
on construction, sale or let.2
From 1 October 2008, all remaining buildings that are not dwellings will
require an
Energy Performance Certificate on construction, sale or let.2
EPCs for the sale or letting of buildings other than dwellings will be
valid for 10 years.
Responsibilities for providing EPCs when selling orletting a non-dwelling
As soon as a building is in the process of being offered for sale, it
is the responsibility
of the seller to make available an EPC to prospective buyers.
As soon as a building is in the process of being offered to let, it is the responsibility ofthe prospective landlord to make available an EPC to prospective tenants.
It is the responsibility of the seller or landlord offering the accommodation for sale or let to make an EPC available for their building. A lease assignment would be considered to be a sale or letting and the assignor should normally provide the EPC. The landlord’s obligations will generally be satisfied if the assignor provides the EPC to the assignee.
The seller or landlord is responsible for ensuring there is an EPC for
the building, o rpart of the building, being sold or let, even if an agent
or another service organisation is acting on their behalf or providing
an EPC. The seller or landlord should therefore ensure any agents acting
on their behalf are complying with the Regulations.As enforcement officers
can request a copy of an EPC from a dutyholder at any time up to six months
after it was required, it would be prudent for sellers or landlords to
retain their reference number so that a copy of an EPC can be requested
from theregister if required.
For those considering selling, letting or sub-letting a building, it is
recommended that the availability of an EPC is ensured at an early stage
to be ready for any future
transaction.
There are two ways this could be achieved:
Negotiate with the head landlord to get an EPC for the whole building
where there is a common heating system (which may be more economic for
all concerned)
Get an EPC for the part of the building you are letting or sub-letting.
If you are letting afloor, for example, in a building with a common heating
system, you may get an EPC done for just that floor. If you occupy a part
designed or altered to be used separatelyand there is no common heating
system you will need a separate EPC anyway.
It is the duty of every person with an interest in, or in occupation of the building to co-operate with any seller or prospective landlord as far as is necessary to enable them to comply with any duty under the Regulations to make available an EPC, and allow access to any energy assessor they appoint.
Top