Derwent-Head Home Energy Advice

a) Energy Performance Certificate content

● The Energy Performance certificate content is in three main sections, the energy rating of the property along with some estimated current fuel costs, a breakdown of how each main part of the dwelling construction and heating system is rated on a scale from very poor to very good and finally a recommendations section where information is given on how suitable improvements can be made to improve the energy rating of the dwelling and reduce fuel bills.

● The energy rating of the property is on a scale of 1 to 100 and assessed for space heating, hot water and fixed lighting only. Other energy use as for example from using electrical appliances such as a fridge and television are not included. If a property had a score of 100 it would mean there was zero fuel bill cost for the space heating, hot water and fixed lighting under the assessment criteria. Alternatively if a property had a very low score then very high fuel bills may apply to that property. This scale is also shown as a series of coloured bands with letters from 'A' (with the most energy efficient rating) down to 'G' (with the least energy efficiency rating) with a range of energy rating score shown for each band. For example many older properties fall into band 'D' which is shown in yellow and applies to a dwelling which has an energy rating of between 55 to 68.

● There is a second table of coloured bands showing the assessment of the dwelling for the CO2 emissions from the space heating, hot water system and fixed lighting also on a scale of 1 to 100. A dwelling with a score of 100 on this scale would have been assessed as having no CO2 emissions for the energy use included in the assessment.

● The breakdown of the construction of the dwelling and it's heating system looks separately at the walls, the roof, the floor, the windows, the heating system, the heating system controls, the secondary heating, the hot water system and the fixed lighting and gives each part a score between very poor and very good. For example a roof with no insulation would be described as 'very poor' and a roof with the present recommended thickness of insulation would be described as 'very good'.

● The final recommendations section then gives a list of any suitable low cost (typically costing no more than £500 for each measure) energy saving measures and also a list of any suitable higher cost energy saving measures. A short summary of information about each potential energy saving measure is also given with reference to where competent contractors must be consulted. This section also includes information on the potential energy rating improvement plus typical annual fuel savings of each recommended energy saving measure.

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b) When an EPC is required and how long it is valid for.

● Energy Performance Certificates are a required document for selling or renting a property.

● Since 1st October 2008 it is a Landlords responsibility to provide a valid EPC to a new tenant moving into a social or private rental property.

● For a property sale, with the suspension of the Home Information Pack regulations from May 21st 2010, the seller must have a valid EPC or have commissioned one before the property is put on the market.

● Also with the suspension of the HIP regulations, an EPC for a property sale is valid for up to ten years based on the day the property is first put on the market. An EPC for a rental property is also valid for ten years.

● If a significant energy saving measure or measures has/ have been made during the validity period of the certificate it may well be worth having another certificate carried out to reflect these improvements though.

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c) Frequently asked questions about Energy Performance Certificates

The following is a link to a page of frequently asked questions about Energy Performance Certificates which have been put together by the Landmark Information group www.hcrregister.com/faq.html

Key phrases for this web page; EPCs in Gateshead, Energy Performance Certificates in Gateshead, Energy Performance Certificate, Energy Performance Certificate content.