EPCs

The performance of building regulations 2007 and European Union Directive 2002/91/EC entails that the energy efficiency of a building must be established and, should it be required, improved. These domestic and foreign policies were introduced in a bid to cut carbon emissions.

Energy performance certificates, or EPCs, were introduced as part of Home Information Packs in 2007. The government abolished home information packs in 2010 though the legal requirement for EPCs still remains to this day.

An EPC is a document that is produced after a Domestic Energy Assessor inspects a property. It is compiled using a variety of information obtained during the inspection, including the efficiency of appliances such as boilers and radiators, windows installed (double glazing or single pane), amount of insulation and anything else that might affect a properties energy efficiency rating. Results are then entered into a software program that performs a multitude of calculations using complex formulae.  The results of these calculations are used to create EPCs.

EPCs can be produced for both commercial and residential properties though the way in which they are calculated differs greatly. This is due to the nature and complexity of commercial properties in comparison to residential properties. EPCs that are produced for commercial properties are conducted by commercial, or non domestic energy assessors.