Typically your Assessor is able to get the vast majority of information they require by just going around the property. The data entered into the software is based on evidence gathered during the visit.

Your Assessor must take photographic or obtain documentary information that is required for audit purposes. If no evidence is gathered then the Assessor must enter the term “as built” into the software program. In this instance the software will use what the property would have been built with determined by it’s age.

If you can supply documentary evidence of any of these kinds of improvements then this can be shown on the Certificate and will likely improve the rating of your EPC.

• Double glazing improvements made to the majority of the property – Fensa certificate, or dated receipt from the installers.

• Any wall insulation Internal/Cavity/External– Any guarantees, or invoice from the installer.

• Solar Thermal, or Solar PV – An MCS certificate from installer.

• Floor insulation/ sloping ceiling insulation – receipt from contractor showing thickness fitted.

• Loft extensions year it was built – completion certificate, dated architectural drawings.

The 3 mains items that have the most significant impact on the energy rating are:

• The levels of insulation in the property.
• The heating system.
• The main source of fuel for heating the property

Main Source of Fuel
UK homes are generally heated by either of these fuel sources: gas, peak rate electric, off peak electric, oil, bulk or bottled LPG. So for instance a property heated by gas would cost you somewhere in the region of 4.64 pence per kwh and the similar property which is heated by bottled LPG 23p per kwh. {*source 2019 Nottingham Energy Partnership.} So with a typically semi which uses in the region of 12,000 kwh to heat the property, it would cost you £696 to heat with gas when compared to £2,760 for bottled LPG.. Therefore running costs impacts the Energy Performance rating rating. Higher costs equates to lower ratings.

Levels Of Insulation
Good levels of insulation ensures that the demand on the heating system is kept down, and it also results in a more comfortable home with lower running costs.

The Heating System
An efficient heating system with good controls such as room thermostat, thermostatic valves and programmer helps to keep energy bills down. This all contributes to a better rating on the EPC.

Double glazing
This one may come as a bit of a shock, but double glazing does not have as major an effect on the EPC as most people would imagine. Certainly not nearly as much as the heating, the insulation and the type of fuel used as mentioned above. However, where it will have a more substantial effect, is when the home is upgraded from single glazing to double glazing. When you are changing from pre 2002 double glazing, to current double glazing, it will only show as a small rise in the energy rating of the home.

With double glazing the perception is generally experienced by the customer in terms of comfort from a decrease in draughts. Unfortunately the EPC doesn’t take into account the condition of any particular item, this comfort gain is not recorded.

 

Low Energy Lights
Again low energy lights does help the Energy Performance Certificate as they are an inexpensive improvement that leads to cheaper energy costs but nowhere near the same contribution as insulation, heating and heating controls.