What is an Energy Performance Certificate?
The Energy Performance Certificate or EPC is the energy efficiency rating of a property, precisely a building. The rating is represented graphically on a scale from A to G, where A is for the most efficient energy performance and G is for the least efficient energy performance. The EPC depicts the environmental impact of a building in terms of Carbon Dioxide or CO 2 emissions.
Why is the EPC so important?
EPC's are a direct outcome of the European Union Directive 2002/91/EC, inspired by the Kyoto Protocol that aimed at cutting back on energy consumption and ecological deterioration due to CO 2 emissions.
About 40% of UK's energy consumption results from domestic uses - due to lighting, heating, air conditioning and other household uses. Issuing EPC's will be a huge step in curtailing this massive consumption. They not only give an estimation of the energy efficiency but also have the necessary information to help improve the energy efficiency of a property. They also provide details about Energy Savings Trusts that help owners with special grants and/or discounts to carry out necessary improvement work.
The lowering of energy consumption will cut down on carbon emissions simultaneously. This way, EPC's not only help save money and energy but also successfully contribut to the cause of environmental improvement.
EPC' and HIP's
An Energy Performance Certificate is the most vital 'required' document in a Home Information Pack. EPC's are helping buyers take the right decisions by providing them adequate information. The better the rating, the higher the energy efficiency of the property and the lower the fuel bills. With lower energy consumption, expenses will be less and the impact on the climate will be favourable. Therefore a property with a good energy performance rating will invite more buyers.
With suitable advice on ways of saving energy and cutting carbon emissions, EPC's have helped property sellers enhance their reliability, the buyers are also benefited in that they can now make their new homes energy efficient.
