What's the deal with these certificates then huh?,

We've been asked countless times about the DEA training. Mostly people want to know exactly what an assessor will do when he visits a property.

In a nutshell the inspection covers the following items:

Roof and wall insulation, space heating & hot water systems, lighting and construction methods.

What you end up with is explained below.

There are two of these easy to understand scales on your EPC, one entitled Energy Efficiency like the one above, and one entitled Environmental Impact:

The environmental impact rating is a measure of a home's impact on the environment in terms of carbon dioxide (C02) emissions - the higher the rating, the less impact it has on the environment. The energy-efficiency rating is a measure of a home's overall efficiency. The higher the rating, the more energy-efficient the home is, and the lower the fuel bills are likely to be.

The average property in the UK is in expected to be in bands D-E for both ratings.

Getting a Certificate

It is important to understand that a certificate is NOT a Home Information Pack; it is only part of it.

A Home Information Pack contains lots of items and should be sourced from a local solicitor or other reputable body. You can contact us and we'll recommend a good source.

WE DO NOT RECOMMEND THE USE OF SPECIALIST NATIONAL HIP PROVIDERS.

Improving the energy efficiency of your home can mean either making changes to the building, or simply changing your behaviour to save energy. Energy Performance Certificates will give you advice on both of these areas.

For example:

Low-energy lightbulbs: Last up to 12 times longer, and use around 80 per cent less energy
Hot water tank jackets: Can cut heat loss by 75 per cent
Loft insulation: At least 250mm thick can cut heat loss by around 30 per cent
Cavity wall insulation: Can cut heat loss by over 30 per cent.

We are pleased to be able to offer advice about green issues. EPCs mean that we can base recommendations on established facts and show a solid return on investment for the home owner, and the world in general.