Energy Performance Certificates

Energy Performance Certificates

Energy Performance Certificates, (EPC’s), are a part of life for buyers, landlords and tenants.  People are growing accustomed to seeing the EPC certificate charts on electrical goods, but many do not know or understand what is used to create the score, or what can be done to make the score better.

Software calculates the score from a variety of information that is gathered from an energy assessment.  The software uses three key characteristics to calculate the score.  First, the physical attributes of the property, (age, construction, shape, and size).  Second, the heating system and how hot water is obtained.  Third, how well the property retains its heat.

Certain features can be changed, such as the heating system.  Whereas others cannot be changed, like the property being detached.  If you are planning to market your property, it is a good idea to figure out what can be changed.  We have provided explanations below that can help regular people get an understanding of the score and how it is calculated.

In regards to the actual structure, there is not much you can do to make it better.  The energy efficiency of a home is calculated by how much air that has to be heated.  Big houses that have high ceilings look beautiful, but they are expensive to heat because of the extra airspace.

How the structure is heated is the greatest factor of the EPC calculation.  It considers how fuel is expended and consumed, along with how it is distributed and regulated.  The kind of fuel can have a significant impact on the calculation.  Gas and central heat produce the best score.  Electricity, oil or LPG can drop the score of your property by twenty points.  These can also signal a red flag for potential buyers or renters.

Landlords and owners alike are rewarded for installing modern condensing boilers.  These modern boilers are more efficient in fuel use.  For those who have devices that tell boilers when to turn off and on, plus temperature settings, (programmers), or thermostatic radiator valves, (TRV), will be rewarded too.  Although some of these improvements can be expensive, they are worth exploring.

Lastly, the calculation takes into account how the property retains its heat and hot water after it is generated.  This is where the age and the shape of the structure affect the score.  For example, detached homes radiate heat into the air because every wall is single.  A mid-terrace, the walls are actually warmed by neighbours.

There are many incentives given so that homeowners can insulate their properties with loft insulation, and cavity wall insulation.  These insulating features are considered and can play a major factor in a property’s score.  By insulating walls, lofts and cylinders, a property’s score can be doubled.

There are several factors that are not considered, including location, surrounding geography, and number of occupants.  It is important to understand that we can now compare the most expensive cost of our lives, energy.  EPC’s have given us a great benefit.

Now you should have a good understanding of how your property’s score is calculated.  It is not rocket science.  The calculations are based on sensible principles that even your grandparents understood.

We at LondonEPC.co.uk provide domestic EPC certificate from just £34.99, calls now on 0203 086 8216.