Typically your Assessor is able to get the majority of the information they need by simply going around the home. The data entered into the software is based on evidence gathered during the visit.

The Assessor must take photographic or gather documentary information that is needed for audit purposes. If no evidence is obtained then the Assessor must enter the term “as built” in to the software program. In this situation the software program will use what the property would have been built with based upon it’s age.

If you can supply documentary evidence of these sorts of improvements to the property then these can be shown on the Certificate and will probably help the rating of your EPC.

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

• Any type of wall insulation Cavity/Internal/External– {guarantee, or receipt from installer.}.

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

• Sloping ceiling insulation/ floor insulation – receipt from contractors showing thickness installed.

• Roof conversions year it was built – completion certificate, dated architectural drawings.

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

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

Main Source of Fuel
UK homes are typically heated by either of these kinds of fuel sources: gas, peak rate electric, off peak electric, oil, bulk or bottled LPG. So for instance a home heated by gas would cost somewhere in the region of 4.64 pence per kwh and the same home which is heated by bottled LPG 23p per kwh. {*source 2019 Nottingham Energy Partnership.} So with a typically semi-detached which uses around 12,000 kwh to heat the home, it would cost £696 to heat by gas when compared to £2,760 for bottled LPG.. Therefore running costs impacts the EPC rating. Higher expenses 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 may come as a surprise, but double glazing does not have as big an effect on the EPC as most people would think. Certainly not as much as the heating, the insulation and the type of fuel used as earlier mentioned. However, where it will have a greater impact, is if the house is up-graded from single glazing to double glazing. When you are upgrading from pre 2002 double glazing, to current double glazing, this would only show as a small rise in the energy rating of the home.

With double glazing the perception is generally felt by the customer in terms of comfort from a reduction in draughts. Because the EPC doesn’t consider the condition of any specific item, this comfort gain is not recorded.

 

Low Energy Lights
Again low energy lighting does help the Energy Performance Certificate since they are a low cost improvement that makes a contribution to reduced energy costs but nowhere near the same contribution as heating, insulation, and heating controls.