Currently around half of all carbon dioxide emissions come from buildings – about 30 per cent from homes and 20 per cent from other buildings.

The EU Performance of Buildings Directive was aimed at cutting carbon dioxide emissions from buildings and will be incorporated into domestic housing sector with the requirement of an Energy Performance Certificate, intended to come into effect in June 2007 as part of the Governments new Home Information Pack.

Its aim is to improve the energy performance of buildings and on sale of a domestic property an Energy Performance Certificate will need to be obtained before the property can be marketed. The certificate will make suggestions of cost effective actions to improve the energy performance of a property. This is expected to become a greater deciding factor with the ongoing increases in fuel prices.

The certificates will give home buyers and sellers A to G ratings for their home’s energy efficiency and carbon emissions. They will tell them current average costs for heating, hot water and lighting in their home as well as how to cut costs with energy efficiency measures.

The reports, prepared by qualified Home Inspectors or Domestic Energy Surveyors, will advise consumers on which energy measures - ranging from thicker loft insulation right through to solar panels - could cut carbon emissions from their home and improve their energy rating.

What to expect when the Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA) visits the property:

• The DEA will be taking internal/external measurements of the property, drawing floor plans and making site notes.
• It will be necessary to photograph some aspects of the property and appliances for the report.
• Access is required to all rooms in the property to assess the methods of heating, lighting and ventilation in the home.
• Clear access is required to meter cupboards, heating systems and their controls, i.e. boilers, timers, hot water cylinders, thermostats, etc.
• An inspection of loft spaces (if accessible) is required to assess insulation. There is no need to move or remove any items stored in the loft. The DEA will use their own ladders where at all possible.
• It might be necessary to open windows and doors to determine wall thicknesses.
• For the average 3 bedroom property, the inspection will take approximately 1 hour - longer if the property is larger or of unusual complexity. 
• The DEA is a qualified professional - insured, accredited, licensed and bound by Codes of Conduct under government recognised Accreditation Schemes. Full details, together with a comprehensive complaints procedure, are available upon request from your DEA.

To ensure the inspection runs as smoothly as possible:

• Please leave clear access to the areas indicated above to facilitate the inspection. The DEA must not move furniture or personal items during the inspection. If the DEA has to limit their inspection in any way because of obstructions, this might have a detrimental effect on the energy rating your property achieves.
• If you will not be present for the inspection, please be mindful that the inspection cannot take place if there are juveniles under the age of 16 in sole charge of the property.
• The assessor will not enter a property where dogs or other animals that could pose a hazard are unaccompanied or unrestrained.
• It is important that the assessor is allowed to carry out the inspection in their own time and without distraction, to ensure none of the data vital to the production of the certificate is missed and that mistakes are not made.
• Missed appointments or return visits will attract a fee.

        Sample EPC

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