| Every property should have an Energy | | | | Nothing is more important and essential than |
| Performance Certificate (EPC), which depicts | | | | an Energy Performance Certificate included in |
| the environmental impact of the building, | | | | a Home Information Pack (HIP). As |
| that is, carbon dioxide emission. Actually, | | | | incorporated in HIP as a form of Governmental |
| EPC shows the energy efficiency rating of a | | | | attempt to provide a complete support to a |
| building. | | | | greener housing market, the EPCs have |
| | | | immensely shouldered the selling and buying |
| European Union Directive 2002/91/EC first | | | | procedures trying to make the process more |
| came with the idea of EPCs. However, the | | | | speedy and lucid where nothing remains behind |
| Kyoto Protocol was the main inspiration. The | | | | the curtain. |
| objective behind this innovative initiative | | | | |
| was to cut back on energy consumption and | | | | You tend to make wrong decisions mostly when |
| environmental degradation due to CO2 | | | | you are ignorant. EPCs will not give you a |
| emission. As per the rules incorporated in | | | | scope for that because they are always |
| Part 5 of the UK Housing Act 2004, all houses | | | | prepared with lots of information, which you |
| and buildings in United Kingdom, are required | | | | can consider while making a decision. In |
| to install EPCs by 2009. | | | | reality, when the rating is better the energy |
| | | | efficiency of the property becomes higher |
| The purpose is to reveal, how safe the | | | | resulting in low fuel bills. When energy |
| construction is for the surrounding | | | | consumption is reduced, expenses are bound to |
| environment and those residing in the | | | | be less and this significantly benefits the |
| building. The EPC rating is presented in a | | | | climate too. Under such circumstances, more |
| graphical representation, on a scale from A | | | | buyers are gaining interest in buying |
| to G. Here, 'A' represents most efficient | | | | properties having decent energy performance |
| energy performance and 'G' represents the | | | | ratings. |
| least efficient energy performance. | | | | |
| | | | Property sellers have learned to increase |
| In UK, 40% of energy consumption is the | | | | their reliability via the EPC's advises on |
| outcome of domestic uses - such as | | | | curbing carbon emissions and saving energy. |
| air-conditioning, lighting, heating and other | | | | Buyers on the other hand are also happy to |
| household purposes. The implementation of the | | | | make their new homes bio-friendly and |
| plan of setting EPCs will be a crucial step | | | | energy-efficient. |
| in curbing massive consumption. EPC serves | | | | |
| the function of estimating energy efficiency | | | | The European Directive for the Energy |
| and at the same time save energy efficiency | | | | Performance of Buildings has directed all the |
| of a building/home. | | | | European Union member countries to introduce |
| | | | EPCs for curtailing energy wastage and unsafe |
| EPCs provide all necessary information | | | | ecological outcomes. Following the directive |
| regarding Energy Savings Trust, which comes | | | | of the UK Government, EPCs are to be |
| to the benefit of house property owners in | | | | submitted by sellers as an integral part of |
| several ways. The Energy Savings Trust | | | | Home Information Packs. |
| provides the owners with special grants or | | | | |
| discounts so that they can accomplish | | | | Property-owners wanting to sell their |
| essential improvement works. | | | | properties can get the EPCs by approaching |
| | | | the Home Inspectors through their agents or |
| Once the energy consumption is reduced, the | | | | by directly seeking their services. Home |
| amount of carbon dioxide being emitted is | | | | Inspectors carefully inspects the property |
| automatically curbed. This is a fantastic way | | | | and its many assets (fittings, fixtures, |
| by which EPCs not only help to restore money | | | | etc.) for the collection of relevant data |
| and energy but also makes a successful | | | | required to issue the energy performance |
| contribution in building an all improved | | | | certificate. The EPC can also be issued by an |
| healthy environment. | | | | Accredited Energy Assessor after he/she |
| | | | checks the property. |