What is an 'Energy Performance Certificate' (EPC)?

As climate change is becoming of increasing concern both for the UK and worldwide, the government has placed a 60% reduction target for carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 2050.

With domestic property responsible for producing approximately one third of the UK's carbon dioxide emissions, they are seen to be contributing greatly to global warming.

As from December 2007, under European legislation, it will a legal requirement for anyone offering for sale a residential property on the open market to provide an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). EPC’s for rental properties are also to be introduced during 2008.

The EPC will be required before marketing the property can commence and will be available for potential buyers to obtain together with the property particulars provided by the estate agents. The EPC will also be contained within the properties' home information pack, either provided within the Home Condition Report or as a stand alone document.

Energy Performance Certificates (Energy Ratings for Homes) will be in a very similar format to that of the energy ratings provided for white goods products. This will provide consumers with an energy efficiency rating using a scale from A-G together with an environmental impact rating based on the CO2 emissions produced by the property. The EPC will provide ratings for the property as it stands on the day of inspection and will also make recommendations as to what can be done to improve these ratings. The recommendations will be itemised in order of cost and will tell the consumer how much they could potentially save by implementing each one.

Green Door Home Inspections Ltd can provide you with an Energy Performance Certificate.