Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) rate properties from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient) — a seven-band scale designed to quickly communicate how energy-efficient a building is.
But here’s the catch: not all C-ratings are equal, and two homes with the same band can vary wildly in energy performance and running costs.
In 2025, when energy costs, climate policy, and net-zero goals are front and centre, the question arises:
Is it time to go beyond A to G? Should EPC ratings become more granular — or even entirely reimagined?
🧮 1. The Problem with Broad Bands
Let’s take a closer look at the EPC band ranges:
| Band | EPC Score Range |
|---|---|
| A | 92–100 |
| B | 81–91 |
| C | 69–80 |
| D | 55–68 |
| E | 39–54 |
| F | 21–38 |
| G | 1–20 |
That means:
A home scoring 69 is a C…
Another scoring 80 is also a C.
Yet their theoretical energy costs could differ by hundreds of pounds a year.
This wide margin can mislead buyers, tenants, and investors, especially when incentives, taxes, or mortgage rates are tied to EPC bands.
📉 Would you accept a “B” credit score that ranges from 700 to 799? Probably not. So why do we with EPCs?
📊 2. Why Granularity Matters More in 2025
In the past, the A–G scale was “good enough” for awareness. Today, it’s inadequate for:
Green mortgages with tiered interest based on EPC sub-bands
Landlord regulations, which may soon require C+
Energy performance-linked rent caps in pilot schemes
Net-zero home targets, where marginal gains matter
🏘️ For large portfolios, the difference between a C69 and C80 could mean the success or failure of retrofit planning and compliance.
📏 3. Global Precedents: EPCs Are Behind the Curve
Several countries have adopted more refined energy labels, including:
Germany: Displays actual annual kWh/m² usage on their energy pass
France: Includes both energy use and GHG emissions in separate bands
USA (Energy Star): Uses a percentile score (1–100)
🗺️ UK EPCs still rely on a modelled score and hide precise values behind broad letters. That’s no longer competitive — or transparent.
🔍 4. What Granularity Could Look Like
If the EPC system were overhauled, it might include:
| Option | Description | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Numeric-only system | Score shown as 1–100 without letters | Greater precision |
| Sub-banding | A1, A2, B1, B2, etc. | Similar to school grading or hotel star systems |
| Energy use label | Shows kWh/m²/year alongside the rating | Transparency |
| Carbon label | CO₂ output shown as standalone graph | Helps climate-driven decisions |
| Real-world energy cost overlay | Based on postcode-specific tariffs | Personalised accuracy |
These changes would make EPCs actionable, comparable, and useful — not just compliance paperwork.
🧱 5. Why the Current System Still Persists
So why hasn’t the A–G banding evolved?
Key reasons include:
Simplicity for the public
Legacy software and database systems
Policy inertia and cost of retraining assessors
Need for widespread standardisation
But these reasons are becoming less valid as digital tools, public awareness, and regulatory complexity grow.
🧰 6. The Risks of Staying Broad
Keeping a blunt rating system could:
Mislead buyers into thinking a C-rated home is futureproof
Undervalue high-end improvements that don’t shift bands
Encourage minimum compliance instead of high performance
Undermine government goals of reducing emissions from buildings
And as more financial products (green loans, energy-linked valuations, etc.) rely on EPCs, broad bands could introduce systemic risk.
✅ 7. A More Granular EPC: What It Could Achieve
Motivate deeper retrofits, not just surface changes
Reduce disputes between landlords, tenants, and local authorities
Enable smarter energy subsidies and tax incentives
Empower buyers to compare homes fairly and confidently
Futureproof the system for AI-driven energy analysis and real-time performance monitoring
🧠 Precision drives behaviour. And energy policy is no exception.
📌 Conclusion: It’s Time to Upgrade the EPC Scale
The A–G EPC scale served its purpose in a simpler energy era. But in 2025 and beyond, it’s holding us back.
Energy performance is no longer a “yes/no” issue — it’s a spectrum.
The market, policy landscape, and climate urgency all demand more granular, transparent, and meaningful EPCs.
The EPC graph is just the beginning. When you know how to read between the lines, your report becomes more than a score—it becomes a blueprint for saving energy, reducing emissions, and increasing property value.
Ready to unlock the full story of your EPC?
📅 Book your expert EPC assessment today at EPCrate.co.uk.
