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

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

If you can provide documentary proof of any of these sorts of improvements to the property then these can be shown on the EPC and will probably help the rating of your EPC.

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

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

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

• Loft extensions year it was constructed – completion certificate, dated architects drawings.

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

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

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

Main Source of Fuel
UK properties 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 house heated by gas would cost you somewhere in the region of 4.64 pence per kwh and the identical house which is heated by bottled LPG 23p per kwh. {*source 2019 Nottingham Energy Partnership.} So with a typically semi which uses around 12,000 kwh to heat the home, it would cost you £596 to heat with gas when compared with £2,760 for bottled LPG.. Therefore running costs impacts the Energy Performance rating rating. Higher expenses equates to lower scores.

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 bit of a shock, but double glazing does not have as major an effect on the EPC as most people would assume. Certainly not as much as the heating, the insulation and the type of fuel used in the property as previously mentioned. Where it will have a larger effect, is when the house is upgraded 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 normally experienced by the customer in terms of comfort from a decrease 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 lights does help the Energy Performance Certificate as they are an inexpensive improvement that contributes to lower energy costs but nowhere near the same contribution as heating controls, heating system, and insulation.