What is the new EPC?
From April 2012, EPCs, or Energy Performance Certificates for domestic homes, will look different. The EPC that we know was first introduced in 2007. In April 2012, this will be changed to support the Green Deal when it is introduced in October 2012.
The Department for Communities and Local Government announced last year that Energy Performance Certificates will be improved and updated. The main changes will be:
- The EPC will have more images and increased white space
- The front page will hold a graph outlining energy efficiency
- The amount of text will be reduced
- References to The Green Deal will be prominent
- A list of funding available through the Green Deal for the energy saving recommendations
- Emphasis on the potential savings that could be gained if recommendations are implemented
- The boring bits of text will now be at the back of the EPC.
Domestic Energy Assessors, who are the professionals that carry out the Energy Performance Certificate, will need to undertake extra training for these changes. They will need a top-up qualification so that they can explain to consumers what the changes mean and the methodology used to calculate the EPC rating. All DEAs need to have undertaken the extra training by
For more information, visit www.communities.gov.uk