How To Improve Your EPC Rating

What is an EPC rating in the UK?

EPC ratings are given to properties, represented by a scale ranging from A (most efficient) to E (least efficient). An EPC is an energy performance certificate that gives a property an energy efficiency rating between A (most efficient) and G (least efficient) and is valid for 10 years. An EPC (energy performance certificate) is a report which evaluates a property's energy efficiency and suggests specific ways it could be improved. 

By detailing the building's current ratings, the Energy Performance Certificate will give the potential score it can reach if recommendations to increase energy efficiency are implemented.

If a property's EPC score falls below Band E, the energy assessment will provide recommendations for improving its energy efficiency. The recommendations section will give you an overview of the recommended measures, costs, savings and also the extent each measure can increase your property's energy efficiency score. With every EPC comes a report outlining cost-effective measures homeowners or businesses can implement to increase their property's energy efficiency and energy ranking. 

An EPC contains information on the energy used by the property and the typical cost of electricity. It also includes recommendations on what you can do to conserve energy in the home and make the property cheaper to operate.

The home energy rating can affect whether or not you can sell or rent your home.

EPC rating explained

The EPC includes estimated energy costs, along with a summary of energy-efficiency-related features in your home. The certificate grades your building's efficiency from A to G and provides a summary of your property. It also offers suggestions for improving your EPC rating. The following table shows what EPC rating your property has, and looks like an energy label on appliances.

The EPC will tell you how energy efficient your property is, and what you can do to improve it. It will also estimate your annual energy consumption, CO2 emissions, lighting, heating, and hot water costs.

An EPC assessment is mostly used by prospective buyers or tenants, to quickly understand the cost of energy bills in a new home or flat would be.

How to improve your EPC rating easily:

You can improve the quality of your property and make it more attractive to buyers by making some simple energy-efficiency improvements.

The tips below give you a helpful overview of the major things you can do to increase the energy efficiency of your home and improve the EPC rating of your home. From installing wall and roof insulation to replacing a bad-performing boiler, there are several different ways to increase your home's energy efficiency. 

1. Insulate your home

Investing in extra insulation for walls, roofs, or cavities is another way to improve home energy efficiency and save energy in the long term. Installing new insulation in the walls and roof can be especially effective in increasing your EPC rating.

Considering uninsulated lofts or roofs are responsible for as much as 25% of the home's heat loss, insulating the roof is almost certain to boost your EPC score. The majority of improvements in your EPC score will come from insulation throughout the house, like walls, attic, and roof insulation. 

Installing insulation in the cavities in the walls and attics can help save you money on energy bills, as well as significantly improve your EPC rating. Better insulation will result in less heat being lost. This means that less energy is used to heat your home.

2. Install a new boiler

EPC ratings can be increased by making specific changes in your home that will result in an increase in energy efficiency within a property. If your home is not energy efficient, making some improvements could increase its value by up to 30%. This is according to research by BOXT, a boiler company.

A new A-rated boiler can be expensive, but it would make your property more energy efficient, saving money on heating bills. This would be appealing to new tenants. 

Even if you have a modern boiler, installing smart heating can increase your home's energy rating too. Smart thermostats can help you easily save more energy on heating and cooling.

3. Upgrade your lightbulbs

Homes with higher energy ratings are more desirable, so improving your home's energy efficiency will likely increase its value. If your house EPC rating is only a few marks from the next level, switching to LED lighting - which is far more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly - can be a game-changer.

Installing energy-efficient lights is an easy and cost-effective way to boost your EPC grading. 

4. Install solar panels

Installing solar panels can greatly improve your house efficiency rating. Not only can custom-built renewable energy systems efficiently and affordably provide you with environmentally-friendly power for your home, but they also significantly boost EPC ratings and increases the property value.

Beyond that, there are several other energy-efficiency measures which would dramatically boost your EPC rating.

For example, installing thermostatic radiator valves, air-source and ground-source heat pumps, biomass boilers, and double-glazed windows. If your EPC score is very low, then a simple change from older lights to LED bulbs may be all that is needed to move your property up a rating or two. 

If you'd like to improve your home's energy efficiency with solar panels, contact Smart Energy to talk to a solar specialist.