What Improvements Can I Make Before My EPC Appointment?
This includes and is not limited to;
- How the property is constructed – brick / timber frame / concrete / system build…
- What type of windows are in the property – double glazing / single glazing / secondary glazing…
- Are openings draught proofed – windows / doors…
- How the property is insulated – walls / floors / loft space / roof…
- How the property is heated – gas central heating / under floor heating / electric storage heaters / electric convector heaters…
- What heating controls are in place – room thermostats / radiator thermostats…
- How water is heated in the property – from the main heating system or a separate heating system e.g. immersion tank…
- What fixed lighting is in the property – LED’s / Halogen bulbs / filament bulbs…
- Any renewable technologies present – solar panels / wind turbine…
The completed EPC includes a section called ‘Steps you could take to save energy’. This section of the certificate provides a list of changes and improvements you could make to the property that will improve its energy rating and should therefore lower its environmental impact and reduce its running costs. Each recommendation includes a ‘typical installation cost’ and ‘typical yearly saving’. These costs and savings are based on average usage and costs across the UK.
If you already have an EPC and it’s a few years old or it has expired and you want to make improvements before getting a new one, we recommend looking at the old EPC to see what the previous recommendations were. If you don’t have an old EPC then it’s not really possible to make recommendations for improvements before conducting a new assessment.
That said there are a few relatively simple changes that you could make, if they haven’t already been done. For example changing all old light bulbs to LED’s is very simple to do. Fitting draught proofing around windows and doors is also fairly simple and low cost. Having a plumber fit TRVs (Thermostatic Radiator Valves) on to your radiators allowing you to control how much heat each radiator is producing, is quick and relatively low cost.
Light bulbs and draught proofing have a small impact on a properties energy rating. Insulating a loft is relatively simple and low cost improvement and it has a much bigger impact on an energy rating. Loft insulation comes in rolls and is sold at most builders merchants and home improvements retailers, such as Wickes, Homebase, Travis Perkins, Parkers, B&Q, Jewsons etc. As long as the loft is accessible it’s very easy to roll out the insulation in between the joists in the loft and then across the top of the joists, ideally to a depth of 300mm.
Other recommendations can include upgrading the heating system, the windows, adding floor or wall insulation. These are much bigger jobs and they can be expensive and most people would wait to have an EPC completed before deciding on making these kinds of changes / improvements.