The ranking and rating on an Vitality Efficiency Certificates (EPC) displays how a lot power it takes to energy a house and preserve it heat.
A house’s power ranking ranges from A (best) to G (least environment friendly). Houses can even be given a rating out of 100. The upper the quantity, the decrease power payments are prone to be
The kinds of issues that may influence an EPC rating embrace the heating system inside the residence, and the way it’s managed; if the home windows are double or triple glazed; how properly insulated the flooring and partitions are; and what kind of lighting has been put in.
So which options actually enhance a property’s energy-efficiency rating?
We’ve taken a take a look at the energy-saving options put in in houses on the market with the highest two EPC rankings of A and B.
Sensible lighting
Lighting is likely one of the options that contributes in direction of a house’s EPC ranking. Vitality-efficient gentle bulbs, akin to LEDs (gentle emitting diodes), last more and generate much less warmth, in order that they scale back a family’s power consumption.
And sensible LED lighting could be automated. As a substitute of getting wall switches, a whole residence’s lighting system could be managed from an app. This four-bedroom residence in Corby, Northamptonshire, has an EPC ranking of B. It has numerous options contributing to its energy-efficiency ranking, together with a wise lighting system and double glazed home windows.
A house with an EPC ‘A’ ranking
Your private home’s energy-efficiency certificates could have two numbers for its energy-efficiency rating: its present rating – or what it scored on the time the certificates was ordered – and a ‘potential’ rating of what it might obtain if the really helpful enhancements are carried out.
This residence has reached its potential rating of 97/97 (an ‘A’ ranking) by utilizing an air-source warmth pump, photo voltaic panels and a warmth restoration system.
You’ll be able to learn how to verify your property’s EPC ranking right here.
Triple glazing
This oak-clad, end-of-terrace residence has an EPC ranking of B. And together with underfloor heating, photo voltaic panels and low water-consumption faucets, it additionally has tripled-glazed home windows. Usually, a house loses extra warmth by means of its home windows than anyplace else, and plenty of home-owners are actually contemplating this kind of improve to make their residence extra power environment friendly.
Learn extra about how triple glazing works, and its advantages and different issues to think about, right here.
Good insulation
Good insulation isn’t nearly conserving a house heat: it’ll assist preserve it at a cushty temperature all year long. However it’s notably useful throughout winter, as you’re much less prone to have warmth escape by means of poorly insulated partitions or roofs, or have draughts.
This four-bedroom residence in Glastonbury has an EPC ranking of B, due to good insulation, photo voltaic panels and double glazing all through. There’s additionally a full insulated backyard studio perfect for working from residence.
Air supply warmth pump
One of many low-carbon alternate options to fuel boilers are warmth pumps. Air supply warmth pumps are powered by electrical energy, and transfer warmth from the outside into your property. This four-bed residence in Lincolnshire has an air supply warmth pump that provides the house’s underfloor heating system.