What is an EPC, and how can it help me make my home warmer?

You may have heard EPC mentioned a lot where saving energy is concerned. But what does EPC stand for? Why do you need one? And how can it help you make your home more energy efficient and cut your energy bills?

EPC stands for Energy Performance Certificate. It’s an official certificate that’s valid for 10 years. It shows a building's energy efficiency and environmental impact on a scale of A (most efficient) to G (least efficient). It’s not a legal requirement, however, if you’re selling or renting out your home, the law says you must have a valid one.

An EPC is important because it gives you the information you need to understand how much your energy bills might be. It also gives you recommendations on how you can improve your home’s energy efficiency. Making these improvements could save you money on your energy bills year after year. 

By investing in your home, it’s more likely to increase in value. If you’re a landlord, it could help attract and retain more tenants who feel more confident about your property’s bills and warmth.

Here are the four main things that you’ll find on an EPC:

• Energy efficiency rating: a letter grade from A to G.
• Cost estimates: information on the cost of heating and lighting your home.
• CO2 emissions: details on the property’s carbon dioxide emissions which contribute to climate change.
• Recommendations: cost-effective ways to improve your home’s energy efficiency.

Some recommendations, like switching to energy-efficient light bulbs, are easy to do even if you’re renting, however EPCs also include much bigger actions like insulating your walls.

An EPC typically costs between £60 to £120, but this depends on the size of your property.

You can get an EPC, on the Government's webpage. An assessor will come to your property to do a detailed energy assessment to create a digital certificate, containing the energy efficiency rating and recommendations for improvement.