A home EPC is useful not just if you're thinking about buying or renting a property; it's also a fantastic way to improve energy efficiency in older, less energy efficient homes. Here's how to calculate energy efficiency and what an EPC can help you with.
Measure Your Energy Efficiency in a Few Steps
Here are a handful of methods for calculating your property’s energy efficiency and banishing the chill from your house.
Using an Energy Calculator for Your Home
An online energy calculator is one approach to determine your home’s energy efficiency. A home energy checker is an excellent initial indicator of whether or not your house needs to be renovated for energy efficiency, but it should be used with caution.
First and foremost, make sure you’re using an independent calculator. On their websites, several energy assessors feature calculators meant to attract and drum up new business. We recommend using a website like the Energy Check on the Energy Saving Trust’s website, which isn’t attempting to sell you anything. It may not be completely objective, but at least they aren’t attempting to pry into your wallets.
An energy calculator provides a basic guidance rather than a full study. Some individuals are unsure if their walls are hollow walls or solid walls, or whether they have previously been insulated. As a result, they may enter incorrect information into the calculator and receive incorrect recommendations.
An energy calculator also provides highly generic recommendations that isn’t matched to the building, and as a result, it may overlook important details.
Obtaining a Domestic EPC Evaluation
Because it is suited to the building and the assessors are professional persons, a residential EPC evaluation is more accurate than a home energy calculator. It’s easy to overlook the effect of a chimney on heat loss, or to overlook the fact that some of the seals on your double glazing are worn out and need to be replaced. An EPC evaluation is a comprehensive service that is suited to your home and given by a professional.
An EPC Assessment’s Importance
Most people think of an EPC as a document that certifies a property’s energy efficiency rating, but it’s so much more. An EPC includes a step-by-step strategy for increasing your home’s energy efficiency. This well-organized strategy will show you how to begin improving your house cosier and warmer.
Customers that have previously requested an EPC did so not because it was necessary, but rather to implement a low-cost improvement strategy. They utilise this strategy to figure out how to increase their household’s energy efficiency. Many homeowners with older homes who have not yet installed EPC upgrades are overwhelmed and unsure where to begin.
The EPC plan outlines everything a homeowner needs to know to get started making improvements, including the recommended order of improvements, the cost of each plan, the amount of money it will save you, the impact it will have on your energy band, and the grants available to assist with implementation. When it comes to selling or renting a house, a domestic EPC involves much more than just legal compliance. It is a long-term investment.
When is it advisable to obtain a residential EPC?
Because it is a legal obligation, most individuals only consider having a domestic EPC when they want to sell or rent their home. If you’ve lived in a property for a long time and want to see if you can help reduce your carbon footprint, or if you’ve noticed that the temperature has been dropping and your energy bill has been rising, it might be a good idea to calculate the building’s energy efficiency to stay warm and toasty while saving those pennies.
The majority of newly acquired properties will come with an EPC, which is necessary before they can be put on the market. In this instance, the only time you should purchase an EPC is when the one you have is about to expire. An EPC certificate is good for 10 years, so if it’s about to expire, it may be reissued to solve any issues before they become a problem.
In the United Kingdom, there is a common misconception that an EPC is only necessary when a house is put on the market and not when it is sold privately. This is not the case because EU legislation mandates the presentation of an EPC when contracts are exchanged; nonetheless, contrary to common belief, many private sales do not offer an EPC. When a property is inherited, an EPC may or may not be supplied. In each of these cases, an EPC evaluation is recommended so that you may remodel in the most energy-efficient manner feasible.
Because you’re taking the property from an older relative who may have been unable to keep the criteria in both of these transactions, the structures may be in terrible shape. In such circumstances, an EPC can assist by showing ways to repair the property to a rentable, saleable, or livable quality.
