In most cases your Assessor is able to obtain the majority of the information they need by simply going around the property. The data entered into the software is based on evidence gathered during the visit.

Your Assessor will take photographic or obtain documentary information which is important for audit reasons. If no proof is obtained then the Assessor must enter the term “as built” into the software. In this case the software will use what the property would have been built with determined by it’s age.

If you can provide documentary evidence of any of these types of improvements to the property then this can be shown on the Certificate and will likely help the rating of your EPC.

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

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

• Solar PV or Solar Thermal – MCS certificate from contractor.

• Floor insulation/ sloping ceiling insulation – receipt from contractors showing thickness installed.

• Loft conversions year it was constructed – building control sign off, dated architects plans.

The three items that have the biggest effect 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 properties are typically heated by either of these fuel sources: gas, peak rate electric, off peak electric, oil, bulk or bottled LPG. So for instance a home heated by gas would cost around 4.64 pence per kwh and the exact same home 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 home, it would cost £696 to heat with gas as compared to £2,760 for bottled LPG.. Therefore running costs influences the Energy Performance rating rating. Higher costs equals 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 surprise, but upvc double glazing does not have as big an impact on the EPC as most people would think. Certainly not as much as the heating, the insulation and the type of fuel used in the property as previously mentioned. However, where it does have a larger effect, is if your property is up-graded from single glazing to double glazing. When you are updating from pre 2002 upvc double glazing, to current double glazing, this will only show as a small increase in the energy rating of the property.

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

 

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