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Why introduce an Energy Performance Certificate?
In July 2002
the European Union raised concerns that not enough was being
done to improve the overall energy efficiency of buildings
and developed the Energy Performance of Buildings directive.
The motivation for introducing the directive is: |
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The
necessity to introduce measures which will
help the EU meet its obligation, under the
Kyoto Protocol, to reduce its carbon dioxide
emissions by 8% and, achieve its own targets
of 60% reduction by 2050. |
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The need
to improve long term security of energy
supply by aiming to reduce energy demand.
Buildings currently use approximately 40% of
Europe's energy. The Energy Performance
Certificate is a report outlining how we can
reduce our demand on energy and help meet
the EU directive targets. |
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In line of this directive, the
UK, a member state of the EU, has started to introduce this
legislation by making Energy Performance Certificates
mandatory within the Home Information Pack for all property
under construction, sale or rent from 2008. Currently,
Energy Performance Certificates are required for all
domestic property for sale and must be included in the Home
Information Pack before the property is marketed. |
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How
can it benefit us?
Along with meeting the EU
directive on Energy Performance of Buildings, the EPC also
aims to assist us in understanding our cost of living and
the environmental consequences it brings. The content in an
EPC achieves this by: |
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Informing
prospective buyers of the likely costs of
energy so that they are fully aware of all
financial commitments associated with
property ownership or occupation.
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Encouraging home owners to undertake
measures to conserve energy in the future. |
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Providing
advice to reduce household running costs
through reducing consumption of fuel. |
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Increasing
the awareness that energy savings will
reduce green house gas emissions that pose a
real threat to our environment by
contributing to global warming. |
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Suggesting
the implementation of small scale renewable
energy technology to meet their energy
demand and sell any surplus energy to the
energy grid. |
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Increasing the
attractiveness of the property to potential
buyers. |
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To obtain an EPC, a 1 hour survey
of the property is undertaken and a report is produced to
show: |
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An
estimate of energy consumption for the
property and annual cost to the property
owner/occupier for the purchase of energy. |
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Providing
an energy rating for the property from A
(very efficient) to G (very inefficient). |
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Recommendations to reduce energy consumption
together with an estimate of the annual
savings the property owner/occupier can
expect to make. |
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The energy efficiency rating given in the EPC operates in a
similar way as the energy efficiency ratings now displayed
on all new electrical appliances. The higher the rating the
lower your home running costs will be. Therefore, reduction
in home energy use is a win/win situation for both the
property occupier in home running costs and for the general
community by improving our living environment.
By increasing the public
awareness of the benefits of conserving energy, the
Government anticipates that residents will become more
conscious of the need to conserve energy and will
continually search for and implement innovative measures in
the home to reduce energy consumption and demand. |
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Accredited by the Building
Research Establishment |
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