What is Energy Performance Certificate aka EPC?

EPC companies guide you on how to improve energy efficiency of your home. The EPC focuses on the amount of energy efficiency of any building be it your house or used for commercial purpose. An energy performance certificate is offered by an accredited Energy Assessor of high standards. He or any approved Data Collector will first conduct a site survey before offering you an energy certificate. They will consider various factors such as ventilation, air conditioning, buildings fabric, heating, lighting efficiencies and how these elements are controlled. They will then rate energy efficiency of your house on a scale of A to G, where in A stands for highest level and G which is poor score. In addition to this, they have to provide a recommendation letter on how to improve energy efficiency. In case of a commercial building these certificates are valid only for 10 years and have to renewed again unlike houses.Based on these recommendation, a house owner can carry out suitable modifications and improve the value of the house. It is said that such certificates are compulsory when a landlord decides to let out his property or puts it on sale. It is an important document which is compulsorily added in a home information pack(hip). Dependent on these details a tenant or a buyer makes an informed decision and then carries out the transaction with the landlord. Some companies also offer energy advice for home buyers and sellers, private landlord. If you are a home seller and are considering property lettings in future, then you have to have such certificates to determine your house's performance on energy.An accredited energy assessor will carry out the survey and an overall assessment if your house based on a sliding scale of A to G. As said earlier, A is the highest level (i.e. most efficient) and G (less efficient). Later on, simplified form of rating was used which is on the similar lines of freezers, fridge and other home appliances.Why do we need an Energy Performance Certificate?Almost 50% of the UK’s carbon emissions are emitted by private and commercial buildings – that’s far more than planes and cars produce. The construction, heating, air conditioning, ventilation and insulation of a building all contribute to its energy emissions. Energy Performance Certificates were introduced to improve the energy efficiency of commercial and domestic buildings, and to ensure that all new-build properties are energy compliant. It was one of several environmental initiatives introduced by the EU.What goes into an Energy Efficiency Certificate?An Energy Efficiency Certificate contains information on the building’s energy use, plus a detailed report suggesting ways to reduce carbon emissions. Buildings are rated from A to G, with A evidently the most energy efficient. Commercial buildings have different legislations to private premises. For example, public buildings above 1000m2 must have a Display Energy Certificate showing their rating.