EPC's & Energy Audits

EPC and SAP report FAQs

 

We specialize in energy audits. Our staff are fully trained and qualified to advise you how you can reduce your bills whilst showing you how to "link" your renewables together.

 

What are EPCs?

Energy Performance Certificates are much like the multi-coloured stickers on the side of new appliances and new cars. EPCs tell you how energy efficient an item is and gives you an indication of its energy efficiency rating from A (very efficient) to G (inefficient).

Domestic EPCs let the occupier / owner of a building, know how costly the property will be to heat and light. It will also show you what its carbon dioxide emissions are likely to be.

 

Which buildings require an EPC?

All domestic and commercial buildings in the UK which are available to buy or rent must have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). This document must be given to the buyer or tenant before they sign any legal entitlement documents to the property.

 

Can a Domestic EPC assessor do a Commercial EPC and vice versa?

No – each assessor is trained and qualified in their own field.

 

Do Grade I & II Listed properties require an EPC?

The quick answer is YES. ALL properties require an EPC in order to show the tenant or buyer the potential running costs of the building. A Grade I / II listed property will be allowed an exemption on the works the EPC requires to be done in the property. We can organise this.  If it later comes to light that no EPC has been given to a buyer or tenant before occupation / possession then a court will frown on this point.

 

What is an EPC exemption?

The Government allows certain properties to have an EPC Exemption.

  1. this includes Grade I & II properties,
  2. properties which are able to show that the potential improvement exceeds £3500.

Please note that an EPC needs to be registered in order to apply for any EPC exemption. The exemption is will have a time contraint on it so it can be reviewed in say 12 - 36 months time.

 

How do I apply for an EPC exemption?

Contact us so that we can assess your suitability?

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How long will and EPC exemption last?

Each exemption is different and has small print, in our experience 3 year is the norm.

 

How long will my EPC last for?

EPC’s are currently valid for 10 years. After this time they will remain on the register as “expired” until another EPC is relodged. Then expired EPC will automatically be removed.

 

What happened if I alter items inside my property like the boiler or windows whilst I own the property?

If you alter windows, doors, boilers, insulation, heating fabrics, TRVs, heating elements then your EPC is out of date. At this stage the EPC does not need to be updated by law, however a new EPC will indicate the buildings new lower running costs. Please discuss these items with us before your survey if you are unsure? If you sell or rent the property then the EPC must be updated in order to give the new occupant an accurate guide of the new running costs.

 

Do I need to update my EPC if I am staying in the property?

No is the quick answer…..however updating an EPC will give you guidance on your future running costs and potential savings.

 

Do I need top display my EPC certificate?

In the UK you need to give a copy of the certificate to your tenant. In Scotland your EPC needs to be displayed inside a property cupboard or close to the meters.

 

How long does and EPC survey take?

Most EPC surveys take around 30 to 60 minutes at the property. 

 

Do you need access to all the rooms in the property for the EPC survey?

YES - it is essential that we access all rooms inside the property in order to validate all heating elements. We also need access to the loft, cellar, boiler rooms, boilers and hot water tanks.

 

What paperwork do I need for the EPC survey?

It is very useful if you have all documents relating to any work you have had done. This might be relevant to the EPC. This includes internal or external insulation / windows  certificates / cavity certificates / door certificates / building control sign certificates / solar PV / Solar Thermal  documents. No paperwork means our surveyor may have to downgrade the efficiency of the property.

 

If I have any photos showing the wall installation - will this help the surveyor?

Absolutely - on occasions the EPC surveyor cant see what is hidden behind the walls and so this will validate your installation. If the surveyor cant see it then they have to ignore it!

 

Government Grants?

If you are applying for Government Grants, then please seek advice from the installer of the products to ensure that you comply with the grant requirements. They may require an EPC to be done before and after the installation of the items in order to comply with the grants? This gives the Government an indication of how efficient the installation has been. It then lowers the Uk’s Keyoto agreement figures.

 

How can I find out if I have a previous EPC?

Try this government website   www.gov.uk/find-energy-certificate. It will show you the last EPC that was done on your property.

 

What is a SAP report?

SAP stands for ‘Standard Assessment Procedure’ and is a government defined method of assessing the energy efficiency of a home. It was first introduced in 1992 and is a rating used to inform a number of standards, including Building Regulations, Stamp Duty exemption for zero carbon homes as well as Energy Performance Certificates (EPC). Unlike an EPC surveyor, a SAP surveyor does not need to actually visit the property. A SAP surveyor is able to build their report using architects submitted plans.

 

Is a SAP report different to an EPC?

Yes – A Sap report is considered to be considerably more accurate than an EPC as its mathematically factually based. A Sap surveyor does not need to visit the property.

 

Who uses SAP reports?

Newbuild houses ideally require a SAP report to be produced as the house is finished. It is best to have a SAP report done prior to any EPC.  This part of legislation changes all the time so please don’t hesitate to ask us how we can guide you if you needs to sell or rent the property.

 

My barn conversion has no building regulations documents what should I do?

If you EPC surveyor is unable to see a building control certificate, then the EPC build date will be considered pre 1900. This would probably mean your barn conversion would be an F or G rating which is not good. Initially contact your planning department, let them guide you. Then come back to us with their recommendations so that you can weigh up all the options.

 

EPCs and feed-in tariffs

Customers in England, Wales and Scotland wishing to get payments under the Government’s feed-in tariff (FIT) for solar PV, will have to prove their home has an EPC rating of band D or above, to receive FITs at the standard rate. You will need to be able to produce your existing EPC (as long as it is less than 10 years old) or obtain a new one.

 

What is ECO 4?

ECO4 is the fourth phase of The Energy Company Obligation (ECO), a government-funded scheme that makes UK homes more energy efficient and tackles fuel povertyThe scheme requires energy suppliers to improve energy efficiency in the UK to tackle fuel poverty and help reduce carbon emissionsThe scheme is directed by the government and delivered through the Green Levy by energy companies such as E.ONThe scheme aims to support low-income households to reduce fuel poverty and improve energy efficiency in communities.

 

What is the Green Deal?

The Green Deal was a way to pay for energy-saving home improvements through your mortgage. You would have been able to take out Green Deal finance to pay for measures such as loft, cavity or solid-wall insulation, double glazing, a new boiler or even a 'micro-generation' system, such as solar panels. This scheme did not fully release to the public.

 

What else can we help you with?

Once our Energy survey has been undertaken, we are then are in a position to recommend the most appropriate organizations to improve your energy sustainability.

 

We are trained to a commercial level in:-
✓   Energy Audits, Grants & Energy Procurement 
✓   Sustainability SAP / SBEM & RDSAP reports 
✓   Heating properties with Renewables (upto 95% saving) 
✓   Heating hot water with Renewables (upto 95% saving) 
✓   Reducing lighting & energy bills from 50% to 95%
✓   Commercial & Domestic Energy Performance Certificates
✓   Commercial Biomass Surveys (Tundra / Innasol / ETA / Windharger)
✓   Green Deal Surveys
✓   Ground Source & Air Source technical surveys
✓   Solar PV - Residential and Commercial surveys
✓   Solar Thermal Hot water surveys
✓   Dairy hot water – Cost reduction surveys
✓   Renewable Heat Incentives & Feed in Tariffs
✓   U value surveys / Heat loss calculations
✓   Internal Wall Insulation technical advice and heat loss surveys
✓   External Wall Insulation technical advice and heat loss surveys
✓   LED consultancy including Hi Bay / Low Bay design reports
✓   Loft insulation Grants
✓   Cavity Wall Grants
✓   Underfloor heating consultancy for wet systems
✓   Designing District Network Heating Systems
✓   Eco Boiler Surveys
✓   Access to 100% Renewable Finance
✓   Voltage optimization   

 

 

 
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