Energy performance certificate cost, if you’re looking to either sell or rent your property in the UK the property must possess the Energy Performance Certificate – or EPC.
An EPC will tell you how energy-efficient your house is, granting an A-grade (very effective) from A (very efficient) to (inefficient) and as well as suggestions on how to enhance it.
An energy performance certificate cost provides information about what your energy efficiency rating might be if you make the suggested improvements, and also outlines efficient ways to earn higher ratings.
What is the reason you should increase your EPC assessment of the house?
Properties that have more EPC scores are typically more appealing to prospective tenants or buyers of homes; the more efficient a house is more energy efficient, the less it costs to heat and light.
If you’ve got money to put into making improvements to the energy efficiency of your house the most effective place to begin is by studying the guidelines on the Energy Performance Certificate. Even if you lease it, you can still make some of the recommendations in the EPC for example, changing to energy-efficient lighting bulbs.
In this article we go through the most important EPC guidelines to help you figure out the amount you can reduce your energy costs through making adjustments in your house.
External or interior wall insulation:
The most frequent guidelines in the EPC is to add wall insulation. Since around a third of the heat loss in homes that are not properly insulated is lost through walls, it’s a great starting point.
Many properties in UK have cavity walls and the gaps is filled by insulating the walls. It is estimated that insulate your cavity walls can reduce your energy costs by about PS395 annually on your energy costs.
If you have walls that are solid that are insulated, they can be done both on the inside and outside of your house. Although costs and savings can vary, we estimate that a semi-detached residence could save PS540 annually after the installation of walls with solid insulation.
Floor insulation:
Insulate your ground floor in case you reside in a house or bungalow, or a the ground floor of a flat, is a excellent option to reduce your heating costs and increase the value of your EPC rating.
The insulation under the floorboards can help you save about PS110 per year for an average house as well as up to PS180 when you reside in a detached home. If you’re looking for an easy fix, you could seal the gap between the skirting boards and floors to prevent draughts with an oil-based sealant purchased from any DIY shop.
Loft insulation:
If you don’t live on a middle-floor apartment the heat escapes from your house through the roof. While the majority of homes have at the very least a little loft insulation, it’s often not enough. Upgrading from 120mm to at minimum 270mm of insulation is sure to aid in saving the homeowner around PS55 every year on your monthly bills. Furthermore, if your loft is easily accessible and doesn’t have condensation or damp issues it’s likely to be easy to insulate. In the majority of cases, it’s possible to do it yourself.
Low-energy lighting:
A new lighting system for your home is an easy gain for any home’s EPC in case you haven’t done it yet. If a typical house were to replace traditional and halogen bulbs with energy-efficient LEDs the cost would be around PS90 and could save PS65 every year.
Increase insulation for hot water cylinders:
The insulation of your hot water tank is yet another option that’s usually mentioned in EPCs. The jacket for your hot water cylinder is priced at around PS17 and installation is simple – follow the manufacturer’s directions.
If you have a jacket that fits around your tank, make sure you check the thickness. It must be at least 80mm thick. If you don’t have it, think about buying an additional one. The addition of insulation 25mm to a thickness of 80mm by using the British Standard jacket, could save you approximately PS70 per year.
Controls for heating:
Utilizing heating controls correctly is a different suggestion that will require a little more effort, but will help you save money over the long run.
If already own a thermostat, consider making it lower by only one degree and save PS145 annually. If you don’t have heating controls installing and using an entire system (which includes a programmer room thermostat, temperature-controlled radiator valves) can yield significant savings.
If you have to pay about PS600 for the entire installation you’ll pay PS180 every year for a typical semi-detached house. This means that you’ll pay back just four or less years!
Replace the boiler with a brand new condensing boiler:
If you’ve recently relocated to an older house the boiler may need updating. The cost of replacing a faulty boiler can vary however, a basic A-rated gas boiler replacement and thermostatic radiator valves are likely to cost you around PS4000.
The return will be in the form of approximately PS540 per year in reductions to your monthly bills (in a semi-detached home) and could reduce the burden when you’re required to upgrade your boiler.
Replace single glazed windows low-E double-glazed windows:
Making your windows energy efficient is a common energy performance certificate cost advice – it’ll decrease your energy costs and make your home appear warmer. Windows with double-glazed windows are the most well-known alternative, however prices differ in relation to the materials used and the style. PVC windows are generally less expensive, for instance wooden frames are more expensive. By fitting A-rated double glazed on windows in a gas-heated, single-glazed home it could cost you PS195 annually.
Solar photovoltaic panels:
If you have a budget for EPC services upgrades extends to more substantial home renovations think about getting solar panels. They are the most popular domestic source of renewable energy in the UK after you’ve paid for installation your energy bills will be substantially reduced.
Solar panels are estimated to cost about PS5, 500 to set up however, you’ll reap savings in the region of PS325 per year*. In addition, you’ll reduce your carbon footprint for your household by a staggering 600kg carbon dioxide per year.
*Savings are based on a family located in North England, home all day, and including export payments. Based on an export guarantee tariff of 5p/kWh.
