EPCs explained: If you’re selling or renting your home out, you need to make sure your home has an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).

How much energy does your home use? Is it energy efficient? Are you eligible for certain benefit owing to a greener lifestyle?

These are the sorts of questions an energy performance certificate, or EPC, is there to answer. An EPC gives you a score relating to how much carbon you generate.

Energy Efficiency Reports are now required by law for all property sales in the United Kingdom before a property is marketed for sale — and with effect from 1st October 2008 all new property lets and tenancy re-renewals require an EPC in addition to all property sales.

The Energy Saving Trust can help improve a property’s energy efficiency, and could even provide grants or discounts to those eligible to help improve their property.

Energy Efficiency Reports rate a property similar to how electrical domestic applicances such as refrigerators and washing-machines are currently rated — providing an energy efficiency rating between “A” to “G“, where “A” is the highest rating and “G” is the lowest rating. The ratings are based on the building itself and its internal systems, such as heating and lighting, rather than additional electrical items.

The property is assessed on its environmental impact, such as Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions, and its overall efficiency. These ratings can vary depending on the size of the building, as well as its age and location — and realistic measures to help increase the property’s ratings are included, which can help lower the owner’s utility bills.

Using this information you can assess the impact of energy-saving upgrades you make when you have your home reassessed later on. These estimates will also influence your eligibility for support and payments, including the ‘Feed-in Tariff’ payments.