Energy Efficiency Reports
Energy Efficiency Reports Since 1st October 2008 any building built, sold or rented has required an Energy Performance Certificate by Law.
The
need for Energy Performance Certificates has been brought about by
Legislation introduced by the Government in an attempt to slow down
Global Warming.
As
stewards of our planet, it is our duty to act now and make the changes
necessary to reduce these emissions and make our world a safer place
for the generations to come. The Purpose Energy
Performance Certificates (EPC) are being introduced to help improve the
energy efficiency of buildings. The certificate provides ‘A’ to ‘G’
ratings for the building, ‘A’ being the most efficient and ‘G’ being
the least, with the average, being ‘D’. Energy Performance Rating The
Energy Performance Rating is based on a visual inspection only. It
will not be necessary to clear cupboards, remove furniture or roll back
carpets but it will be necessary to view meters and enter any loft
space. The report will reflect the visible condition of the property on
the day it is inspected. Photography will form a part of the inspection
process. When
looking at the ratings; the higher the number: the better the
performance, which should mean lower fuel bills. The ratings and
improvements suggested in energy advice reports will help to prioritise
the different ways of saving energy. Some
improvements make obvious economic sense, and others are really only
realistic considerations when a particular item requires replacing. Houses
and flats can vary widely in size, therefore an allowance is made for
the size of the property. So the basis of the energy rating is to try
and predict the fuel cost of the property, divide this cost by the
floor area, and fit the results onto a simple scale – as noted on the
scale (fig 1) the higher the number, the better. Ratings
are calculated on the basis of ‘standard occupancy’. This is essential
because the way that occupants use a property can increase or
decrease energy use by very large factors. The use of standard
occupancy allows a level playing field for comparison between
dwellings, regardless of how the current occupants use it. Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) The SAP has been adopted by the Government as the The calculation is based on a range of factors which contribute to energy efficiency: 1. Materials used for the construction of the dwelling 2. Thermal insulation of the building fabric 3. Ventilation equipment and its characteristics 4. Solar 5. The fuel used to provide space and water heating 6. Renewable energy technologies For more information on this service please contact a member of our expert consultancy team on 01708 555544.
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