The EPC is based on averages and ignores actual occupancy and usage. I also produces an average house rating - band D in England and Wales. My EPC has rted our uninsulated, partially heated solid walled Victorian villa as G1/G18. It tells me that of I complete all of the energy performance measures recommended I can achieve E47/E52. Since this is below average I lose out on FIT payments. What is worse the measures recommended include one which would be illegal in our conservation area and potentially harmful to the house, wind power. The measures do not include Biomass GSH or ASH. Is the methodology at fault or the assessor? Surely if I move to renewables instead of installing the upgraded LPG boiler my rating could be higher than that stated.
- Thread starter Edislaw
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MatthewC
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I have to say that I bought this house (limestone, Grade II, 1840s ish) without knowing or caring that its EPC was meant to be - how do you measure an overgrown house with water running down the walls, no functioning downpipes or gutters, with holes in ceilings and the roof? I have a view that the EPC is not relevant to period properties and I certainly do not think that they considered older properties when they wrote the rules. My Building Control Officer was just happy that things I did made it better than it had ever been.
Why are you worried about it and how does it matter if the rating is low? Can you please enlighten me on what the rules say and how they are applicable to older properties (and please don't use too many abbreviations as I'm getting past understanding so many new ones these days!)?
Why are you worried about it and how does it matter if the rating is low? Can you please enlighten me on what the rules say and how they are applicable to older properties (and please don't use too many abbreviations as I'm getting past understanding so many new ones these days!)?
Flyfisher
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I've not looked into the details but my understanding is that some grants, including FIT payments for renewable energy systems, can be dependent on the EPC rating of a property.
It seems daft to me because I'd have thought that inefficient houses are precisely the ones where renewable energy would have the biggest benefit, I.e. by replacing more fossil fuel usage than an equivalent size but much more efficient house.
It seems daft to me because I'd have thought that inefficient houses are precisely the ones where renewable energy would have the biggest benefit, I.e. by replacing more fossil fuel usage than an equivalent size but much more efficient house.
malcolm
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To me making the funding for renewable stuff depend on a good standard of insulation makes some sense. It is likely to be less damaging to the environment to manufacture a few rolls of insulation and save a few kW of heating than to manufacture some wind or solar device full of nasties and ship it over from China to provide the same number of kW. The system is probably intended to persuade people to insulate a bit. There will be more of this sort of thing - the UK signed up to the Kyoto Protocol.
EPC will ignore occupancy and heating use. It's mostly info for the next people that buy the house and nobody knows who they are. It is a bit frustrating though. They really don't like LPG boilers which I imagine would be another annoyance. I don't think you can get to a sensible band with one of those. Is oil fired any easier?
Our place is required by building regs to insulate to new build levels because of a change of use. That is a serious annoyance, but should work out possible without destroying the house. Ventilation of cold spaces is the key. Conservation area isn't a big hassle.
EPC will ignore occupancy and heating use. It's mostly info for the next people that buy the house and nobody knows who they are. It is a bit frustrating though. They really don't like LPG boilers which I imagine would be another annoyance. I don't think you can get to a sensible band with one of those. Is oil fired any easier?
Our place is required by building regs to insulate to new build levels because of a change of use. That is a serious annoyance, but should work out possible without destroying the house. Ventilation of cold spaces is the key. Conservation area isn't a big hassle.
Not correct. You need to have a Green Deal Assessment which will give you an EPC rating which isn't relevant. The heat demand shown is and this is what the RHI payments are based on and not the EPC rating (ours is G1/G16 by the way and with all the measures implemented (which include PV, external wall insulation and double glazing none of which we could do due to being Listed) could be F37). You will need to have adequate roof insulation and cavity wall insulation (if applicable) to qualify and they must not be on the recommended items listed - the rest are recommendations and do not impact the RHI payments, but you can do these if you wish. If not don't bother getting the Green Deal Assessment as you'll have to have it re-done when you have the insulation. You'll then need to find a MCS approved installer and ensure the equipment fitted is also MCS approved. there are a couple of other hoops to jump through but these are the essentials.Edislaw said:
We've had a biomass boiler fitted (for 12 months nearly now) which provides heat and water where we did not have heating previously, other than 1 wood burner which when you;re working is hard to keep 1 room warm never mind a house. We had the £2k FIT and will get our first payment in January which is guaranteed for 7 years. This will tell you all you need:
https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/ofgem-publications/87121/drhiessentialguideforapplicantsseptember2014webv12.pdf
bennoa1