EPC (Energy Performance Certificates)

A good idea, but are they any good?

EPC are legally required by the vendor when selling their property (dwelling). The idea is to provide any potential buyer an overview of the ‘energy requirements’.

Issues are set out showing:

·        the thermal insulation of the walls, roof and floors for example

·        The electric lighting usage - whether energy saving bulbs and switches have been installed

·        Comment about water heating and space heating – normally refers to what type of boiler, whether there is solar heating etc.

The over all indicator is a group letter from ‘A’ being excellent with a points score of 92 or better. The lowest score is ‘G’ indicated by a score of 1 to 20.

If a property is to be ‘rented out’ the EPC rating must be ‘E’ or above. (National average is a ‘D’ rating)

The Certificate provides a breakdown of the various issues with an individual rating of: very poor, good, very good or N/A.

An indicator of how much the electricity bill is likely to be, how many kWh used for heating with an additional figure for hot water.

On older EPCs there was a list of suggested improvements that would upgrade the energy rating. They include suggestions like installing thermal insulation, solar panels, changing a boiler etc. A guide price for the work and the possible cost savings to the energy bill when completed.

On the more recent EPCs, they tend to be digital downloads using the Internet. (Reduces wasting resources such as paper and coloured ink).

EPCs still present limited advice plus a link to: ‘Advice on making energy saving improvements’. It then takes you to the Government website to start an on-line survey.



So far the idea / principle of the EPC looks excellent. It is still evolving and becoming a useful document.

Now ‘real life’. The surveyor is not ‘Superman or Wonder Woman’ (or I doubt it).

They have a limited time frame to carry out their inspection. The cost of the Certificate is relatively cheap and has to include: agency fee, inspector’s fee, fuel and running costs of the vehicle, software and associated overheads and so on. (I was very surprised how much one inspector actually received for carrying out the EPC inspection).

He could only make a living if he did several surveys in a localised area and take a maximum of ½hr on each job).