Energy Performance Certificates
Every Home Information Pack includes an Energy Performance Certificate. This looks very similar to the sorts of certificates you will be familiar with on electrical appliances like fridges and washing machines, with a rating from A to G.
The certificates are commissioned by the seller (or their agent) from an accredited Energy Assessor, who will have visited the property and assessed its energy efficiency against a series of criteria. This includes the date, construction and location of the house and relevant fittings (heating systems, insulation or double glazing, for example).
The most efficient homes will have an A rating and the least efficient a G rating. The Certificate also rates the environmental impact of the home. The higher the rating the lower the CO2 emissions and the less impact it has on the environment.
So the more energy efficiency measures like loft and cavity insulation, low energy light bulbs and double glazing you have, the better your rating. A home with a higher rating is likely to be more attractive to a potential buyer than a similar house with a lower rating, so it's another good reason to invest in improving your home's energy efficiency with better insulation.
The certificate also indicates the potential rating the property could achieve with further improvements.
