Energy Performance Certificates

The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is the benchmark and basis for the upgrading of the energy efficiency of all UK homes. The EPC identifies building fabric, heating and associated controls and any insulation as the big three EPC components and then further identifies, as far as it’s able, recommendations for improvement.

The EPC is a good measure of thermal efficiency, but the limitations of the software and its methodology mean that it’s not perfect and which is why in some cases, savvy landlords can save themselves thousands making the ‘C’ standard by employing AML Energy to cast a professional eye over their property.

The government website that lists all EPCs produced on any given property does not list all the EPCs because most of the early EPCs have been junked as being inaccurate. The reason for which was not any failing of the energy assessors, but changes in the software and calculation methodology. The methodology is still periodically updated and the focus of the software is to thermally improve thermal property performance starting with the fabric which is why landlords are, in some instances, being denied the most affordable recommendations to improve thermal efficiency by those recommendations not even appearing on the EPC.

Below: An ‘E’ is good for rentals now, but jumping to a ‘D’ never mind a ‘C’ is going to take careful thought. Doing so affordably needs specialist advice. The reason being is that in many instances, not all of the most affordable recommendations are even listed.