An energy certificate, also known as an EPC, is a legal requirement when selling or renting out properties in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It offers valuable information about the cost of running a property, and recommendations for improving its energy efficiency. It can be used by potential buyers to make an informed buying decision, and by sellers to maximize the sale price of their property.
The certificate outlines the current building’s energy rating, which is given between A and G (A being the best). The report includes identification data for the property, along with its address, required heat for heating, supplied energy for technical building systems and CO2 emissions. There are also details of cost-effective energy improvement measures, such as insulation, double glazing and the installation of solar panels.
It is important to read the energy energiattest for driftsbygg certificate in full, as it is a comprehensive document with important information about the property. It provides a breakdown of the properties main components, including walls and roof, heating, hot water system and lighting. The report then gives a ranking of the property’s performance, which is usually given out of five stars – the higher the rating, the better the performance.
In addition to the overall rating, the energy certificate will detail how much it will cost to run the property in terms of energy costs, broken down into individual categories such as heating and cooling, lighting and electricity. This will be based on the property’s actual consumption, as well as an estimate of what it could consume if all the recommended improvements were made.
Some of the energy improvements suggested on the energy certificate will be relatively simple to implement, and will reduce the cost of running the property in the future. For example, installing double-glazed windows can keep in a lot more heat and therefore reduces the need for heating, while changing to low-energy lighting will reduce electrical bills. The certificate will also give an idea of how much the changes might cost and how long they might take to pay for themselves.
The energy certificate is valid for ten years, and can be renewed before the expiry date, particularly if substantial investments are made to improve the property’s energy efficiency. The energy assessment is carried out by a qualified energy assessor, who is certified by the government to carry out these assessments. The assessor is authorised to issue the energy certificate, which will then be entered into the official database for buildings.
A quick and easy way to find an energy certificate for a property in England, Wales or Northern Ireland is by using Reallymoving’s search service. The site allows you to enter your postcode or the address of the property, and will then display the information contained within the energy certificate. It is also possible to search by certificate number, if you have it. This service is free to use, and you can also find out more about the EPC requirements for different types of property.