EPC Certificates
Energy Performance Certificate Information
What Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) measure
As well as producing an energy rating for the property, the EPC will give predicted annual heating, lighting and hot water costs. These are based on a standardised occupancy (according to floor area) and a standardised heating pattern. This assumes the heating will come on from 7 am to 9 am in the morning and 5 pm to 11 pm in the evening (Monday to Friday). At the weekend it is assumed the property is heated for 16 hours per day. The default temperatures are 21 degrees C for the main living room and 18 degrees C for the rest of the dwelling. This enables heating costs to be compared on a like-for-like basis and not on the actual use of the heating system by the homeowner. For example, there may be two identical dwellings, one of which is occupied by a single person who heats only one room for a few hours of the day, and the other is home to a large family heating the whole house for most of the day. Both will achieve the same scores on the A to G scale.
The heating costs displayed are very sensitive to the type of fuel used by the heating system. Some fuels are much more expensive that others and are likely to result in a lower energy rating for the property.
Summary of the Home's Energy Performance Related Features
The EPC will contain a table giving a description of the energy efficiency and environment performance of the walls, floor, roof, windows, main heating and main heating controls, hot water and lighting. These descriptors are based on the data input and are defaulted by the software. For example, if the heating controls in a property comprise of a programmer only, the default descriptor would be 'very poor'. Most modern homes would have a programmer, room thermostat and thermostatic radiator valves, for which the descriptor would be 'Average'. A boiler energy manager or full zone control (where the temperatures in different parts of the property can be controlled at different times) would be described as 'good'.
Elmhurst Energy Systems Ltd
Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) further Information
EPCs contain information on your home's energy use and carbon dioxide emissions
a recommendation report with suggestions to reduce energy use and carbon dioxide emissions.
EPCs carry ratings that compare the current energy efficiency and carbon dioxide emissions with potential figures that your home could achieve. Potential figures are calculated by estimating what the energy efficiency and carbon dioxide emissions would be if energy saving measures were put in place.
The rating measures the energy and carbon emission efficiency of your home using a grade from 'A' to 'G'. An 'A' rating is the most efficient, while 'G' is the least efficient. The average efficiency grade to date is 'D'. All homes are measured using the same calculations, so you can compare the energy efficiency of different properties.
Around 27 per cent of the UK's carbon dioxide emissions come from domestic homes.
Email: anthony@anepc.co.uk
Tel: Anthony Smith 0845 543 3603
