With cold winter temperatures just around the corner and the cost of living continuing to rise, now is a great time to ensure your property is as energy efficient as possible. This will not only improve your home’s comfort but can also save you a considerable amount of money.
If you’re concerned about soaring energy costs, it might be worth considering long-term solutions rather than quick fixes. One way to determine whether your home could benefit from such efficiency-boosting measures is by taking a look at your Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating. Properties with an EPC rating of E, F or G are deemed the most inefficient and, therefore, may qualify for government heating grants and other funding.
Make an informed decision about your property’s eligibility for ECO4 funding with this handy EPC guide.
What is an EPC?
Put simply, an EPC is essentially a report which tells the owner and/or tenants how energy efficient their property is and provides a rating from A (very efficient) to G (very inefficient). It also estimates how costly it will be to heat and light the property, as well as offering a rough idea of what its carbon dioxide emissions will be.
One of the most useful elements of an EPC is its ‘recommendations’ section, which provides guidance as to what the rating could be if certain improvements are made. This advice will come in particularly useful if you’re considering making some efficiency-boosting changes to your home.
All estimates and recommendations are based on a typical household in the property in question – they are not tailored specifically to you, the people you live with, or your respective lifestyles and consumption.
All EPCs must be produced by an approved domestic energy assessor. They are valid for 10 years from the date of issue.
Why are EPCs beneficial?
As mentioned above, EPCs can be incredibly useful to people who are looking for cost-effective ways to improve their current property’s energy efficiency. However, EPCs can also be beneficial to those who are looking to buy, sell, or rent a property.
You should make your property’s EPC available to potential buyers or renters as soon as you list it. An EPC provides a trustworthy, consistent way of determining the energy efficiency of any building and can make comparing multiple prospective properties easy.
If your property’s EPC rating is good, it may make your property more attractive to potential buyers or renters, compared to properties whose EPC rating is poor or is not made available at all.
Improve Your EPC Rating with ECO4 Funding
Introduced in April 2022, the ECO4 scheme aims to provide vulnerable and/or low-income households with subsidised or free efficiency-boosting measures such as heating systems and insulation. If you’re looking to improve your property’s EPC rating but cannot afford to fund such measures yourself, ECO4 funding may be the solution for you.
Targeted at properties with an EPC rating of E, F or G, this funding can help you improve the efficiency of your home and subsequently reduce your energy costs. To check your EPC rating or find out whether you qualify for electric boiler grants, loft insulation installation and much more, visit our website today. Alternatively, get in touch with the team here at UK Energy Management (NE) Ltd – we will be more than happy to discuss your circumstances and provide tailored guidance.
