The information put into the software is based on evidence that the Assessor collects during the visit. Typically your Assessor will get almost all of the information whilst going around the home.

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

Whenever you can provide documentary evidence of these sorts of improvements to the property then these can be shown on the Certificate and will probably improve the rating of your EPC.

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

• Any type of wall insulation External/Cavity/Internal– {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 constructed – building control sign off, dated architectural drawings.

The 3 mains things that have the most significant effect 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 generally 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 you around 4.64 pence per kwh and the similar home heated by bottled LPG 23p per kwh. {*source 2019 Nottingham Energy Partnership.} So with a typically semi-detached using around 12,000 kwh to heat the property, it would cost you £696 to heat with gas when compared to £2,760 for bottled LPG.. Therefore running costs affects the Energy Performance rating score. 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 may come as a surprise, but double glazing does not have as major an impact on the EPC as most people would think. Certainly not nearly as much as the heating, the insulation and the type of fuel used as mentioned above. Where it will have a larger effect, is if the home is up-graded from single glazing to double glazing. When you are upgrading from pre 2002 double glazing, to current double glazing, it will only show as a small rise in the energy rating of the property.

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

 

Low Energy Lights
Again low energy lighting does help the EPC because they are an affordable improvement that leads to lower energy costs but nowhere near the same contribution as heating, insulation, and heating controls.