Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs)
Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) provide information on how energy efficient your property is, and how it could be improved. Properties are rated on a scale from A to G, with A being the most efficient. Information is also provided on measures which could be made to improve the energy efficiency and an indication of the cost for each improvement. In addition to information provided on the EPC, more detailed information and advice is contained within the Recommendation Report which is provided with the EPC.
An EPC must be produced:
The EPC is valid for a period of 10 years and does not have to be updated during this time. If improvements have been made to your property, you may choose to update the EPC, particularly if the property is to be sold or re-let.
When a property is to be sold or let, the energy performance indicator (the energy efficiency rating for a dwelling) must be included in the commercial property adverts, and provided to anyone who enquires about buying or selling the property.
Property owners who fail to provide EPCs or do not include the rating when advertising the property could be subject to a penalty charge notice (minimum £500) in each case, so the advice is to commission the EPC at the earliest opportunity.
Retrofit Assessment
Domestic properties, which require energy retrofit work, will first need to be assessed by a Retrofit Assessor. The Assessor plays a key role in whole house retrofit projects as they collect important property data/information needed in order to develop a retrofit plan.
A retrofit assessment is a non-intrusive on-site assessment, which includes the following:
A retrofit assessment will typically take longer to complete in comparison to your standard energy assessment (mainly due to the increase in information required).
Retrofitting is the act of fitting new systems designed for high energy efficiency and low energy consumption, to buildings previously built without them.
The reason for doing this is simple. A more efficient building will be cheaper to run, and will have a lower impact on the environment.
PAS 2035:2019 is the overarching British standard for Retrofitting dwellings for improved energy efficiency.
Put simply, it provides specification and guidance for the retrofit of domestic buildings, and details best practice guidance for domestic retrofit projects.
What makes PAS 2035 different, is the approach to the retrofit process which is considered to be ‘whole house’ or ‘whole building’ retrofit. This approach considers the home, environment, occupancy and the householders’ improvement objectives when determining the most suitable measures to install. It also eliminates the issue of retrofit work being considered in isolation which can unintentionally damage the overall building performance.
