Friday 30 September 2011

The Legitimate And Environmental Importance Of Energy Performance Certificates

By Sheraz Hussain


Energy Performance Certificates (or EPC's) are considered as the Governments way of complying with European Legislation in regard to the energy efficiency relating to buildings covered in the European Performance of Building Directive (EPBD). The purpose of an EPC is to analyse and account the energy efficiency of a particular property. Finished EPC's render a rating of the particular energy efficiency and CO2 emissions of a building right from A to G - where A is certainly a superior efficiency rating and G very poor.

Just as EPC's are made applying consistent procedures, the energy efficiency of a single building can be exactly matched to some other structure of the same category. This will aid prospective property buyers or perhaps renters to match the energy efficiency of one property with another to enable them to consider energy efficiency along with fuel charges in their investment.

An EPC offers an easy-to-understand graphical representation of the actual efficiency associated with the building as well as further details providing suggestions about what you can do to enhance the energy rating. There is also, usefully, an estimation of the energy rating that could be attained in the event that all the tips is carried out.

For a house owner or maybe a landlord and specifically for any person with a passion for minimizing waste furthermore saving the environment, an EPC secures outstanding value. Fuel fees have multiplied drastically over the last several years and this has motivated a lot of property owners to try and construct their home much more energy efficient. A property which has a superior rating of energy efficiency becomes more popular with a possible buyer or renter, in so doing raising the marketability and estimated worth the house may attain.

But the value of an EPC is not just one of fuel cost saving and environmental friendliness. From a legal perspective, by the 21st May 2010 it has been created a necessity for any individual marketing or leasing real estate in England or Wales to order an Energy Performance Certificate before the marketing of the actual premises commences. It is the house owners' sole responsibility - never the selling or letting agencies. The Energy Performance Certificate has to be distributed around prospective buyers or renters at the earliest opportunity and positively before any specific contractual agreement is reached. In fact, in the event that an EPC is available it must be offered each time the house is deemed by a potential buyer or renter. Failure to meet the requirements according to EPC's can result in a fine - and that is repeatable for each and every day a breach is sustained.

In conclusion, an EPC should be viewed as an affordable and highly useful assessment of the energy efficiency of your property. It contains actionable recommendations which will help increase your properties efficiency, which will of course help cut your fuel bills saving you money in the short term, and also help the marketability of your property should you ever wish to sell or rent. There are many registered Domestic Energy Assessors (DEA's) throughout the UK who will visit your property and produce an EPC at relatively low cost. It is recommended to have your property assessed right away so that you can start to feel the benefits, rather than waiting until you may wish to sell or rent it out. Remember the real reasons for EPC's and don't just get one because you have to.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment