Andy Staines – Glinton Climate and Environmental Group
If you have lived in the same owned house since before 2007 then it is probable you do not have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and since that date it is a requirement before you can sell, or rent out, your property.
In the UK, around 22% of carbon emissions come from our homes, from things like heating, lighting, and running household appliances. The EPC was introduced by the government in 2007, to help people understand their current level of energy efficiency and offer guidance on how to make it greener.
To put it simply, a high EPC score will mean cheaper energy bills. If you are looking to buy a home always check the properties EPC score which can be found at the gov uk website – https://www.gov.uk/find-energy-certificate. Remember – a rating of ‘A’ is the best.
But the EPC also shows where the energy efficiency can be improved – be it, for example, in missing insulation or double/triple glazed windows etc. So even if you are not planning to sell your home, getting an up to date EPC rating is still a good idea so you know what improvements might save you wasted energy.
At the time of writing, an EPC survey costs somewhere between £70 to £100 – just search the web for ‘EPC’ and you will find links to qualified EPC surveyors. For the record, my own EPC gave me a rating of ‘C’ but it also suggested how I can easily move to a ‘B’ without, hopefully, breaking the bank!
