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The Domestic Energy Performance Certificate

The Domestic Engergy Performance Certificate

The SAP Crown logo at the top of the EPC shows the EPC uses the The Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) which is the methodology used by the Government to assess and compare the energy and environmental performance of dwellings.

The main property details then include:

  • The address;
  • The type of dwelling (flat, house etc);
  • The date of the Energy Assessment survey
  • The date when the Certificate was lodged on the Central Regiser;
  • The unique Report Reference Number assigned to the EPC when it is lodged;
    And the floor area of the property that was used as part of the assessment calculation. This could exclude some conservatories that are thermally seperated from the house ie that they have externally quality doors between them and the house. It will also exclude any unheated garages.

EPC Estimated Energy Costs EPC

The domestic EPC will show the estimated energy costs for the property based on standard occupancy. It will also show the potential savings if certain energy efficiency improvments are undertaken.

Lighting
The property ideally needs all fixed lighting to be either LED or fluorescent fittings.

Heating
This figures relates to the central heating, usually radiators, or storage heaters.

Hot water
This is for showers, baths and basins.

The figures indicate how much the average household would spend on hot water, lighting and heating. This figures exclude all appliances and computers.

The Energy Efficiency Rating

Properties are graded A to G with the everage property in Band D. Generally old properties with electric or poor amounts of insulation will be in the lower bands. For a property to achieve a Band A it will need to be extremely well insulated with a modern heating system and solar panels.
Potential rating shows what could be achieved if all the recommended improvments to the energy efficiency were installed at the property.

Top EPC Recommenations

These efficiency improvements are listed that offer the best payback on investment. Wall insulation on this particular Victorian property offers the highest savings although the indicative costs to install are high. Potential payback period in 8.5 years in this instance.
The green tick shown under the Green Deal shows that finance could be available to help with installation costs.

Energy Performance Certificate Summary of Energy

Each building element and heating component on the property is listed with a short description and a simple star rating. Old solid brick properties will have 1 star and newly build walls will have 4 or 5 stars.
With respect to heating, electric heaters have 1 star and mains gas heaters 4 stars.
A figure is provided for the primamry energy use per square meter of the floor area in kWh/meter square.

The assessment does not take into consideration the physical condition of the elenents.
Assumed means the insualtion could not be inspected and an assumption has been made in the methodology based on the age and type of construction

EPC Low and Zero Carbon Energy Sources

If the property has low carbon or ‘green’ energy sources in the property this will be listed here. These include wood logs, solar panels, heat pumps, etc

The Green Deal

The Green Deal was a Liberal Democrat/Conservative government initiative to allow the means to finance energy efficiency improvemets to a property with little up front cost.
The finance is managed by the Green Deal Finance Company which recently relaunched in June 2017.

Domestic EPC Recommendations

This table in the EPC lists the energy efficient measures that could be installed at the property. These include loft insulation, replacement boiler or better heating controls. The rating is shown after the measures have been installed and the indicative cost benefit.

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