Energy Performance Certificates

  An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is a legally valid document which provides an energy efficiency rating (displayed on an A-G scale) in relation to a property’s running costs. This rating will take into account the potential energy performance of the property itself (the fabric) and its services (heating, lighting, hot water etc).

In addition to this, the EPC document will also show:

✅ A breakdown of a property’s energy performance.
✅ Its environmental impact.
✅ Recommendations for improvements.
✅ Estimated energy use alongside potential savings.

Not all properties are used in the same way. The energy efficiency rating uses ‘standard occupancy’ assumptions (typically 2 adults and 2 children) which may be very different from the way in which occupiers actually use things like heating and lighting within their property.

 An EPC is required in the UK whenever a property is marketed for sale or rent or is newly built. The EPC is valid for 10 years or until a newer EPC is produced for the same property. It is recommended that a property’s EPC should be made available to potential buyers as soon as it is marketed for sale or rent. 

New build energy assessments are required both before and after construction, with calculations and EPCs sent to Building control for sign off. Regional building regulations will establish a target that your dwelling must meet in order to achieve sign off.

A New Build EPC or SAP (Standard Assessment Procedure) EPC, scores the energy efficiency of a property and provides an indication of the projected energy costs after construction of a residential property. A new build EPC can be produced when designing a new residential building (predicted EPC) however, it is typically produced after a property has been constructed as a result of an As-Built SAP Calculation.