Energy Performance certificate, EPC, HIP, DEA,

New support for homeowners to get green grants

01 August 2007

A new system to help homebuyers get green grants worth hundreds of pounds to lower their fuel bills and make their homes greener has been announced today, linked to the introduction of Home Information Packs and Energy Performance Certificates.

Most people are unaware that there are typical grants of £100 to £300 available for cut-price loft and cavity wall insulation. The programme is expanding next year so even more home buyers will be able to benefit from hundreds of pounds off insulation.

Measures recommended in the EPC could save the average consumer £300 a year off their fuel bills, according to the Energy Saving Trust.

With EPCs (Energy Performance Certificates) being introduced today — giving home-buyers a home energy rating, the system will make it easier for consumers to get grants to make the improvements recommended in the certificates.

For the first time, the six major energy companies have agreed that when buyers move into their home and sign up to an energy contract they will get immediate access and information about 'green' grants or offers to consumers. This follows talks with the Government and will help them make their home more environmentally friendly and cut fuel bills.

In addition, the scheme will include a new portal on the Energy Saving Trust’s website where consumers only need to enter their postcode to find details of offers available. Once fully rolled-out it is estimated that the energy certificates would save nearly a million tonnes of carbon per year by 2020.

Consumers who choose to give details from their EPC to suppliers will also receive targeted offers for recommendations in their certificate. This information will not be used for any other purpose and cannot be given to anyone else by the supplier.

The offers are funded by energy suppliers and other partners, with their investment in ‘green grants’ increasing to £2.5 billion over the next three years from April 2008, compared to £1 billion over the last three years.

EPCs are being introduced today as part of Home Information Packs, starting with four bedroom homes and above. The certificates will give consumers energy ratings for homes of A-G, similar to consumer friendly fridge ratings.

A snapshot of leading estate agents shows that most will offer a HIP for around £300 to £350 plus VAT — £200 to £250 of which is already paid for in the current system.

Some estate agents will be offering them for free or as part of their ordinary fees.

The introduction of HIPs is already leading to search prices coming down for consumers, with nearly fifty local authorities having already reduced what they charge consumers for searches, in some cases by more than £100.

Increased competition and transparency as result of HIPs is expected to reduce costs further.

The Government will monitor HIPs closely to ensure the benefits are being passed on to the consumer, with a new consumer panel being set up as part of a wider programme of action to make the home buying and selling process work in the interests of consumers.

The introduction of HIPs in August when the market is normally quieter, with fewer homes for sale, will help to support the smooth transition.

Housing Minister Yvette Cooper said:
“Energy certificates have the potential to cut family fuel bills by hundreds of pounds. But it can still be a real hassle getting the work done. Most people don’t know these grants are available or don’t know how to apply for them. This means it should be much easier for homebuyers to get help to cut their fuel bills and carbon emissions too. It could save hundreds of pounds on insulation and hundreds of pounds on their fuel bills too.”

Philip Sellwood, Chief Executive of the Energy Saving Trust, said:
“Our Green Barometer shows that more than half of people want tailored advice on energy saving. Energy Performance Certificates will make it easier for people to identify the simple things they can do in their home to reduce their energy consumption. More people will be reached now that energy companies are being proactive in providing information to householders on grants available to them.”

Friends of the Earth campaigner Dave Timms said:
“We’re delighted that Energy Performance Certificates are finally up and running. EPCs will give homeowners information which, if they act on it, will help them tackle climate change and save money on home energy bills.”

Paul King, Chief Executive of the UK-BC (Green Building Council), has said:
“It’s really very simple. We will fail to prevent the worst effects of climate change unless we make huge improvements to the energy efficiency of our existing homes. The new Energy Performance Certificates provide an essential tool for doing this. By showing people, for the first time, how their homes rate in terms of energy consumption, and giving them user-friendly advice about the most cost-effective ways of improving their performance, we can all be equipped to do something meaningful to tackle climate change.”

What is a Energy Performance certificate?

SAMPLE

10 Mountain Ash Avenue

Leigh-on-Sea

Essex

SS98 4YY

United Kingdom

Report reference number (RRN) SA3675892

Inspection date 9 June 2006

HOME CONDITION REPORT

10 Mountain Ash Avenue Leigh-on-Sea Essex SS98 4YY

9 June 2006 RRN: SA3675892

Page 2 of 8

This home has been assessed using the UK’s Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) for dwellings.

Its performance is rated in terms of the energy use per square metre of floor area, energy efficiency

based on fuel costs and environmental impact based on Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions.

This table provides an indication of how much it will cost to provide lighting, heating and hot water

to this home. The fuel costs and Carbon Dioxide emissions are calculated based on a SAP

assessment of the energy use. This makes standard assumptions about occupancy, heating patterns

and geographical location. The energy use includes the energy used in producing and delivering

the fuels to this home. The fuel costs only take into account the cost of fuel and not any associated

service, maintenance or safety inspection costs. The certificate allows one home to be compared

with another, but always check the date the certificate was issued. Since fuel prices can increase

over time, an older certificate may underestimate the property’s fuel cost.

The energy efficiency rating is a measure of the

overall efficiency of a home. The higher the

rating the more energy efficient the home is and

the lower the fuel bills will be.

The environmental impact rating is a measure of

a home’s impact on the environment in terms of

Carbon Dioxide emissions.The higher the rating

the less impact it has on the environment.

Section H Energy Performance Certificate

Dwelling type: Detached Bungalow

Home inspector’s name: John Brown

Date of inspection: 9 June 2006

Date of making the report: 8 June 2206

Certificate number: 13024

Floor area: 64 sq metres

The home’s performance ratings

Estimated energy use, Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions and fuel costs of this home

Section H Energy Performance Certificate

10 Mountain Ash Avenue

Leigh-on-Sea

Essex SS9 4SY

United Kingdom

10 Mountain Ash Avenue Leigh-on-Sea Essex SS98 4YY

9 June 2006 RRN: SA3675892

Page 3 of 8

Current Potential

Energy use 261 KWh/m2 per year 178 kWh/m2 per year

Carbon dioxide emissions 3.50 tonnes per year 2.46 tonnes per year

Lighting £34.71 per year £34.71 per year

Heating £222.29 per year £135.73 per year

Hot water £47.25 per year £47.25 per year

The following is an assessment of the key individual elements that have an impact on this home’s

performance rating. Each element is assessed against the following scale: Very poor/Poor/Average/

Good/Very good.

Element Description Current performance

Main walls

Cavity (as built) Poor

Main roof

Pitched, 150mm loft insulation Good

Main floor

Uninsulated solid concrete (assumed) Average

Windows

100% double glazed or better.

During or post 2002

Good

Main heating

Mains gas boiler Average

Main heating controls

Programmer, TRVs and bypass n/a

Secondary heating

None n/a

Hot water

From main n/a

Lighting Mostly low energy lighting Good

Section H Energy Performance Certificate

Summary of this home’s energy performance related features

Current environmental impact rating D 57

Current energy efficiency rating D 59

To see how this home can achieve its potential rating please see the recommended measures.

10 Mountain Ash Avenue Leigh-on-Sea Essex SS98 4YY

9 June 2006 RRN: SA3675892

Page 4 of 8

Potential energy efficiency rating C:71

Lower cost measures

(up to £500)

Typical savings Performance ratings after improvement

Energy efficiency Environmental impact

1 Put 150mm jacket on hot

water cylinder

£25.00 D:60 D:58

2 Upgrade loft insulation to

250mm

£6.75 per year D:62 D:60

3 Fully fill wall cavity with

blown fibre

£80.00 per year C:70 C:70

Sub-total £86.75 per year

Higher cost measures

(over £500)

4 Improve TRVs, programmer

& boiler manager

£2.75 per year C:71 C:70

Total £89.50 per year

Improvements to the energy efficiency and environmental impact ratings will usually be in step with

each other. However, they can sometimes diverge because reduced energy costs are not always

accompanied by reduced Carbon Dioxide emissions.

The measures below are cost effective. The performance ratings after improvement listed below are

cumulative, that is they assume the improvements have been installed in the order that they appear

in the table.

Section H Energy Performance Certificate

Recommended measures to improve this home’s performance ratings

Potential environmental impact rating C:70

The further measures below could deliver even higher standards for this home.

Solar Water heating. A solar collector coupled with solar water storage reduces the fuel needed

for domestic hot water.

Photovoltaics. A solar collector which generates electricity for use in the home or for sale to the

National Grid.

10 Mountain Ash Avenue Leigh-on-Sea Essex SS98 4YY

9 June 2006 RRN: SA3675892

Page 5 of 8

Lower cost measures (typically up to £500 each)

These measures are relatively inexpensive to install. Some of them may be installed as DIY

projects. DIY is not always straightforward, and sometimes there are health and safety risks,

so take advice from an energy advisor before carrying out DIY improvements.

1 Upgrade loft insulation to 250mm

The anticipated cost is based upon a contractor installing an additional 100mm of glass fibre or

mineral wool insualtion in your loft, but it can also be installed by a capable DIY entusiast. If you

choose the DIY installation then take care not to block ventialtion at the edge of the loft space as

this may cause condensation. When handling the insulation always wear gloves and masks.

2 Fully fill wall cavity with blown fibre

The external walls of your home are built with a gap, called a cavity, between the inside and outside

layers of the wall. Cavity Wall insulation fills this gap with an insulating material. The material is

pumped into the gap through small holes, which are drilled into the outside layer of the walls (the

small holes are sealed afterwards). Because this involves using specialist machinery, a professional

installation company must carry out the work. The contractor will thoroughly survey your walls before

commencing work to be sure that this type of insulation is right for your home, and provide a

guarantee for the work.

Higher cost measures (typically over £500 each)

3 Improve thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs), programmer & boiler manager

The heating system is controlled by TRVs but does not include a room thermostat. This means the

boiler continues to operate even when no heating is required – even when the TRVs have turned off

the radiators, the boiler is still burning fuel and wasting your money. Ask for a thermostat to be

located in the lounge and insist it switches off the boiler as well as the pump.

About the measures to improve this home’s performance ratings

Section H Energy Performance Certificate

Solar water heating can make a significant contribution to the supply of domestic hot water for use

in the home while reducing the amount of fuel needed. This uses radiation from the sun to heat

water and typically requires the installation of a collector on a southerly facing roof slope or on a

free-standing tilted frame.

Solar photovoltaics are used to generate electricity from daylight for use in the home.

Photovoltaic modules can be fitted on top of an existing roof structure using a properly designed

support structure.

Further measures

10 Mountain Ash Avenue Leigh-on-Sea Essex SS98 4YY

9 June 2006 RRN: SA3675892

Page 6 of 8

Section H Energy Performance Certificate

This inspection has been undertaken by a qualified Inspector who has received appropriate training

to collect the correct information about the energy performance of homes. This information has been

processed by a Government approved organisation to produce the energy performance certificate

and the recommendations for improvements in this report. Both the Inspector and the energy

performance certificate supplier are regularly monitored to ensure that their work is up to standard.

For clarification of the technical information in this energy performance certificate please contact:

the Home Inspector.

About this energy inspection

About this home’s performance ratings

The ratings provide a measure of the overall energy efficiency of this home and its environmental

impact. Both are calculated using the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP), which is the Government’s

recommended system for assessing the energy performance of dwellings. The ratings take into

account the home’s insulation, heating systems, hot water system, fixed lighting, ventilation, number

of windows and fuels used.

Not all of us use our homes in the same way so to allow one home to be directly compared to

another, energy ratings are calculated using ‘standard occupancy’ assumptions. Standard occupancy

is based on a home in a central UK location and assumes that during the heating season the home

is heated for 9 hours a day during weekdays and 16 hours a day at weekends, with the living room

heated to 21oC and the rest of the house at 18oC.

The ratings are expressed on a scale of 1 to 100. The higher the energy efficiency rating the more

energy efficient the home and the higher the environmental impact rating the less impact it has on

the environment.

Homes which are more energy efficient use less energy, saving money and helping to protect

the environment. The cost of providing lighting, heating and hot water to a home with an energy

efficiency rating of 100 would be practically zero. Similarly the Carbon Dioxide emissions from

lighting, heating and hot water for a home with an environmental impact rating of 100 would be

practically zero.

The potential ratings shown above describe the energy performance of the home assuming all

cost effective measures have been installed. For comparison a home built to the 2006 Building

Regulations would typically be around the boundary of bands B and C.

10 Mountain Ash Avenue Leigh-on-Sea Essex SS98 4YY

9 June 2006 RRN: SA3675892

Page 7 of 8

Remember to look for the energy saving recommended logo when buying energy efficient products.

It’s a quick and easy way to identify the most energy efficient products on the market.

For advice on how to take action and to find out about offers available to help make your home

more energy efficient call 0800 512 012 or visit www.est.org.uk/myhome

Section H Energy Performance Certificate

This home’s impact on the environment

What can I do today?

Carbon dioxide is one of the biggest contributors to the man-made greenhouse effect. We all use

energy every day – at home, at work and when we travel. To generate that energy, we burn fossil

fuels (coal, oil and gas) that produce ‘greenhouse’ gases – particularly Carbon Dioxide – which are

changing our climate and damaging the environment. The energy we use for heating, lighting and

power in our homes produces over a quarter of the UK’s Carbon Dioxide emissions.

The average household in the UK creates about six tonnes of Carbon Dioxide every year. There are

simple steps you can take to cut Carbon Dioxide emissions and help prevent climate change.

Making your home more energy efficient by adopting the suggestions in this report can help protect

the environment by reducing Carbon Dioxide emissions. You could reduce your emissions even

more by switching to renewable energy sources.

In addition to the specific measures suggested in this report, don’t forget there are many simple

measures you can put into action today that will save you money, help reduce your impact on the

environment and improve the comfort of your home.

For example:

• Check that your heating system thermostat is not set too high (21oC in the living room is

suggested) and use the timer or programmer to ensure you only heat your home when necessary.

• Make sure your hot water is not too hot. Your cylinder thermostat shouldn’t need to be set higher

than 60oC/140F.

• Turn off lights when not needed and do not leave appliances on standby. Remember not to leave

chargers (e.g. for mobile phones) turned on when you are not using them.

10 Mountain Ash Avenue Leigh-on-Sea Essex SS98 4YY

9 June 2006 RRN: SA3675892

Page 8 of 8

Section A General information

Home Inspector’s signature

Note: Facsimile signature taken from in the database)

Inspector’s licence number:

Name:

Qualifications:

Address:

Phone number:

Fax number:

E-mail address:

Date of making the report:

42764

John Brown

FRICS

47 Long Street Leigh-On-Sea

Essex SS97 3QC

01702 844489 01702 844489

homeinspections@townside.co.uk

9 June 2006

What to do if you have a complaint

If you have a complaint about this Home Condition Report or the Home Inspector who carried it, out you should follow the procedures set out below.

• Ask the company who provided the report, (the company named on the front of the report) or the Home Inspector who carried it out to give you a copy of their complaints handling procedure. All companies must have a written procedure and make it available to you if you ask.

• Follow the guidance given in the document, which includes making a formal complaint.

• Companies that provide home condition reports must handle your complaint in accordance with their procedure. You may ask [scheme name] [scheme address] to investigate the complaint if:

• your complaint is about an allegation of criminal activity;

• the company fails to handle your complaint in line with their procedure; or

• you are not happy with how they have handled your complaint. If you are the seller and believe that the report is.incorrect. You should report this to the company that provided the report (or the Home Inspector who carried out the inspection).

• If the company or the Inspector agrees that details are not correct, they will give a corrected report and ask for the inaccurate report to be removed from the register of home condition reports.

• If the company or Inspector do not agree, you may complain to [scheme name] and apply to have the report removed from the register of home condition reports.

When the report is complete

All home condition reports are held on a register kept by or on behalf of the Government in

accordance with regulations made under the Housing Act 2004. Under those regulations, a copy of

this home condition report can be inspected on-line at [hcrportal@address] by entering its unique

reference number SA3675892. Entering this number allows anyone to inspect the report so you

should not give it to someone unless you are happy for them to see the report. If you give someone

the reference number and wish to prevent others from inspecting the report, you should tell the

recipient that you do not want the number to be further disclosed.

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