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

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

Whenever you can provide documentary proof of any of these kinds of improvements then these can be shown on the Certificate and is likely to increase the rating of your EPC.

• Loft conversions year it was built – building control sign off, dated architectural plans.

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

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

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

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

The three things that have the main 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 fuel sources: gas, peak rate electric, off peak electric, oil, bulk or bottled LPG. So for example a home heated by gas would cost around 4.64 pence per kwh and the identical home which is heated by bottled LPG 23p per kwh. {*source 2019 Nottingham Energy Partnership.} So using a typically semi which uses in the region of 12,000 kwh to heat the home, it would cost £696 to heat by gas in comparison to £2,760 for bottled LPG.. Therefore running costs influences the Energy Performance rating rating. Higher expenses equals 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 one will come as a bit of a surprise, but upvc double glazing does not have as big 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 as mentioned before. Where it does have a larger effect, is if the property is up-graded from single glazing to double glazing. When you are changing from pre 2002 upvc double glazing, to current double glazing, this would only show as a small increase in the energy rating of the property.

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

 

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