An energy performance certificate (EPC), which attests to your property's energy-efficiency, is required when you sell a house or apartment. But what exactly does a high EPC rating mean? Continue reading to learn how to obtain an EPC for your house and how much they cost.
What is an Energy Performance Certificate?
A certificate that demonstrates how energy-efficient your property is is known as an EPC. The paper contains an overview of the energy performance-related elements of your properties as well as the expected energy expenses.
Additionally, they offer suggestions for improving your home’s efficiency, as well as an estimation of the cost of doing so and any possible savings.
Why EPCs are Important
As soon as you begin marketing a home for sale or rental, the EPC for that property must be made available to any potential purchasers. To create the EPC, you must hire an authorised home energy assessor. EPCs make it simple to compare the energy efficiency of several homes when purchasing or renting a home and help you choose the choice that is most environmentally friendly.
Any energy efficiency upgrades you can make, their cost, and the potential savings are all highlighted in an EPC. When trying to boost the value of your present home, this might be helpful. You must make sure it meets criteria whether you intend to rent it out to tenants or buy it and restore it.
It’s crucial to keep in mind that any estimates of energy use and possible cost savings refer to the average household in that location. They are not made just for you, your loved ones, or your friends.
How to Improve Your Energy Efficiency Rating
An EPC will outline several strategies for raising your rating and offer rough pricing. These upgrades will lower costs for you, prospective purchasers, and tenants. They will also aid in reducing the property’s environmental effect.
Typical suggestions include:
- Your floor, walls, loft, and roof all need insulation. Your energy expenses will go down since you will need less heating as a result of improved insulation.
- Double glazing: Windows with double glazing retain a lot more heat, requiring less energy.
- Solar panels may significantly raise the value of your property and create greener, more affordable electricity than more conventional ways.
- Low-energy lighting has the advantage of being an easy solution to lower energy costs without requiring structural changes.
