The information entered into the software is based on evidence that the Assessor gathers during the visit. In most cases the Assessor will get almost all the information whilst going around the home.

Your Assessor will take photographic or obtain documentary information which is needed for audit reasons. If no evidence is gathered then the Assessor has to enter the term “as built” in to the software program. In this instance the software program will use what the property would have been built with based on it’s age.

Whenever you can supply documentary evidence of any of these sorts of improvements then these can be shown on the Certificate and is likely to increase the rating of your EPC.

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

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

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

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

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

The 3 mains things that have the biggest 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 kinds of fuel sources: gas, peak rate electric, off peak electric, oil, bulk or bottled LPG. So for instance a property heated by gas would cost around 4.64 pence per kwh and the identical property heated by bottled LPG 23p per kwh. {*source 2019 Nottingham Energy Partnership.} So using a typically semi-detached which uses around 12,000 kwh to heat the home, it would cost £696 to heat by gas when compared with £2,760 for bottled LPG.. Therefore running costs affects 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 particular one will come as a bit of a shock, but double glazing does not have as major 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 as mentioned before. Where it will have a more substantial effect, is if the home is up-graded from single glazing to double glazing. If you are improving 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 typically 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 EPC because they are an affordable improvement that contributes to lower energy costs but nowhere near the same contribution as insulation, heating and heating controls.