An EPC rating provides valuable information that can help landlords and home owners make their properties more energy efficient, and save money on utility bills.

Improving the energy efficiency of your property is a smart investment that will pay off in the long run.

Ordering an EPC is easy and affordable, so there’s no excuse not to get one for your property today.

What is an EPC rating and why is it important?

An EPC rating is a score that reflects the energy efficiency of a property. It ranges from A (the most efficient) to G (the least efficient).

The better the energy efficiency, the lower the energy bills and more savings for you.

An EPC rating can be used as an indicator of how much money you could save on utilities by making improvements to the property.

It can also be used as an assessment tool when buying or renting a property, helping you make an informed decision about which property is most energy efficient and cost-effective in the long run.

How do I get an EPC rating?

You can order an EPC from an accredited Energy Assessor.

They will assess the property and provide you with a comprehensive report that includes the EPC rating, recommended improvements to make the property more energy efficient, and estimated savings on energy bills as a result of these improvements.

How is an EPC rating calculated?

An EPC rating is calculated based on several factors, including the size of the property, its age and condition, insulation levels, draught-proofing, heating systems, hot water systems and energy sources.

The Energy Assessor will take all of these factors into account when assessing the property and calculating its EPC rating.

The calculations are carried out by using approved goverment software.

The three things that have the biggest impact on the EPC rating are:

• The heating system and heating control.
• The levels of insulation in the property.
• The fuel source used to heat the home.

These alone account for around 80% of the EPC rating. So concentrating on improving these areas will have the biggest impact on the rating.

What are the benefits of an EPC rating?

An EPC rating can help landlords, home owners and tenants save money on energy bills.

It can also be used as a marketing tool to attract more buyers or tenants by showcasing the energy efficiency of your property.

Additionally, it provides valuable information about what improvements could be made to make your property more energy.

What do the different EPC ratings mean?

The ratings are broken down as follows:

A rating: the most efficient, leading to lower energy bills.

B rating: very good energy efficiency and cost savings on utility bills.

C rating: average energy efficiency and cost savings on utility bills.

D rating: below average energy efficiency but still cost savings on utility bills.

E rating: lower energy efficiency but still cost savings on utility bills.

F rating: less efficient and minimal savings on utility bills.

G rating: the least efficient, leading to higher energy bills.

So what is a good EPC rating?

With an average UK property having an EPC rating of a D60, anything higher that a D60 would be considered to be a good rating.

How can I improve my EPC rating?

The best way to improve your EPC rating is to focus on the three things that have the biggest impact on the rating: heating systems and controls, insulation levels, and fuel sources.

Your EPC certificate will have a list of recomendations showing improvements that can be made to the property that would lower your energy bills.

Here is a real life example of a house EPC rating

As you can see, the current rating of this property is an E50.

Here is the list of recomendations relating to the same property.

The EPC recomendations report will show the:

• Typical installation cost
• Typical yearly saving
• Potential rating after completing each step

A very important fact to remember is that the rating shown would only be acheived if the recomendations were carried out one after another in that order.

So for example, if you only changed the boiler to a condensing boiler, the rating wouldn’t be a C72. It would only be around a E52 or E53.

A better way to get an idea of which improvements would improve the ratings most is to have a look at the typical yearly saving column.

Because the EPC rating is based on the total cost of providing heating and hot water to the property, it goes without saying that the higher the amount of that saving, the more the rating of the epc will be improved.

So if we have a look at a summarised version of the saving below for the same property, the things that would improve this property EPC rating the most are:

1. Cavity wall insulation
2. Solar pv panels
3. Heating controls (room thermostat and TRVs)
4. Floor insulation
5. Condensing boiler
6. Low energy lighting 

However, it’s not always solely about the rating on the EPC.

In the example above, although the low energy lights had the least impact on the EPC rating, it has the quickest payback period and after only one year it would be providing the homeowner with continuous savings.

Frequently asked question relation to the EPC rating.