The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) indicates how energy-efficient a given property is. EPCs use an alphabetic scale that ranges from A (very energy efficient) to G (very inefficient). If a property owner decides to sell or rent a home or flat, they must present potential buyers and tenants with an EPC.
Most homes in the UK have an EPC rating of D, which indicates a not-so-great energy efficiency of 55-68%. At the same time, the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) rating for domestic private properties in England and Wales is E, which indicates an even less impressive efficiency rating of 39-54%.
The greater the energy efficiency of your property the more likely you will be able to sell or rent it quickly and for an optimal price. Therefore, it is in your interest to explore ways to bump the property’s EPC rating as much as possible.
Below are 6 ways you can boost the EPC rating of your property from E to C.
Improving the energy efficiency of your property will make it more desirable to potential buyers and renters and allow you to sell or rent it at a higher price. Here are 6 simple ways to improve an EPC rating from E to C.
LEDs or light emitting diodes represent the biggest revolution in lighting since the invention of the electric light bulb. LED lights use 75% less electricity than incandescent light bulbs, and at low power levels, the efficiency is even greater. Not only that, but LED bulbs typically last up to 25 times longer than incandescents. If your EPC rating is languishing around E one of the best ways to boost it is to replace your inefficient incandescent lights with LEDs.
It won't matter how well your exterior walls are insulated and sealed against the elements if you still have old-fashioned, single-pane windows. Single-pane windows enable practically unfettered heat transfer from interior to exterior in the winter and exterior to interior during the summer. If you want your property to earn that coveted C rating double or triple-glazed windows are a must. Are they cheap? No. But they will pay for themselves many times over in the long run.
Because heat rises sub-standard loft insulation can account for as much as 33% of a home’s total heat loss. That’s the bad news. The good news is that you can drastically reduce that number by simply bolstering the insulation in the loft. And while you’re at it you should address any weaknesses in the exterior wall insulation. Fortunately, upgrading cavity wall insulation is typically easy and affordable. Solid wall insulation will cost more than cavity wall, but the long-term benefits will also be worth it.
Most energy waste today can be traced directly to legacy technologies that were installed at a time when the average person had never heard the term “energy efficiency”. Windows and wall insulation are two examples of this, and boilers are another. Today’s boilers are much more energy-efficient than those installed just 15 - 20 years ago. So, if you want to improve an EPC rating from E to C replacing your antiquated boiler is a good start.
Once you have your new energy-efficient boiler in place you’ll want to ensure you get the most out of it by installing a smart thermostat. A smart thermostat can be synced with your phone’s GPS so that if it detects you are away from home it will turn the heat down. They can also be programmed to raise or lower temperatures in individual rooms at different times of the day and night. And you can change settings whenever you want from wherever you are in the world via your smartphone.
This option will not be practical for all property owners but for some solar panels, ground source heat pumps and even wind power could be in play. The initial investment in such technologies can be significant but so too are the potential long-term benefits. Not only will your home be more energy efficient, which should help improve its EPC rating, but it will also be somewhat energy independent.
At Energy Performance Certificates we issue EPCs for thousands of residential and commercial properties each year. Whether you have an extensive portfolio of properties or are an individual homeowner we’ll provide you with the EPC you need to sell or rent your home. Getting a quote is easy, just tap the “Get An Instant Quote” button on our site, choose your property type, select the services you require and provide contact details.
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