Charity demands swift reforms for outdated EPC system

Charity demands swift reforms for outdated EPC system

9:54 AM, 5th February 2024, About 3 months ago 42

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One charity is calling for major reforms to EPC’s saying the current system is “not fit for purpose”.

The Building Research Establishment (BRE) demands reforming EPCs to be net zero-ready claiming it will help decarbonise UK homes.

The charity is calling on the government to cut the validity of EPCs from ten to five years.

All make our homes better

A report by the BRE argues homes are changing rapidly and an EPC’s ten-year lifespan doesn’t provide up-to-date advice and information for homeowners.

The BRE is also calling on the government to strengthen the training for domestic energy assessors could build trust and confidence in the system and ensure that assessors can help drive the net zero transition of housing stock.

Gillian Charlesworth, chief executive of the Building Research Establishment (BRE), said: “Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) cover 60% of UK homes, and are a key source of information used in planning retrofit programmes and in government policies. But too often the public sees the certificates as just a bureaucratic necessity.

“With targeted reforms, the government can ensure EPCs can achieve its potential, as a trusted starting point for advice and information on how we can all make our homes better.”

Journey to net zero

Ms Charlesworth adds a rise in people installing heat pumps in their homes highlights the need for reforms.

She said: “The transition to clean energy in homes is starting to gather pace; the last few months have seen an upsurge in interest in installing heat pumps.

“Whether it’s clean heat, upgrading insulation, solar panels or other modern energy technologies, reforms to the EPC to make it more up-to-date, accurate and usable will be key to supporting homeowners play their part in the journey to net zero.”

Low-carbon heating over the next decade

According to the report, 40% of homes do not have an EPC and 1/3 of homes are more likely to have a property rated below C if it’s been lived in for more than 20 years.

The BRE say official development of a provisional EPC rating for these homes could help local authorities and homeowners to identify retrofit opportunities and plan grants and support.

In 2022 just 5% of people had used the advice on the certificate to improve their home. The BRE say by making this advice easier to use, EPCs can become a much more widely used and trusted tool, particularly as millions of households transition to low-carbon heating over the next decade.


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Comments

Seething Landlord

17:32 PM, 8th February 2024, About 3 months ago

Reply to the comment left by EPC Killjoy at 08/02/2024 - 11:10"We found that energy efficiency retrofits are often combined with home improvements that actually increase consumption, such as extensions"
This is why improvements in gas consumption are short-lived according to the Cambridge report to which you referred somewhat misleadingly.

Seething Landlord

17:42 PM, 8th February 2024, About 3 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Beaver at 08/02/2024 - 15:59A huge proportion of goods sold in this country are manufactured in China, the economics speak for themselves and any attempt at protectionism will be totally counter productive and dramatically increase the cost of solar panel installation. The report says that in the USA, where trade barriers have been introduced, the cost of solar panels is double what it is here. It also says that currently up to 95% of solar panels used in Europe are manufactured in China

EPC Killjoy

18:31 PM, 8th February 2024, About 3 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Seething Landlord at 08/02/2024 - 17:42
Thank goodness we are out of the EU and can still get cheap Chinese PV. Just as BP didn't want PV, USA will seek to maintain its resumed hegemony in fossil fuel supply.

EPC Killjoy

19:17 PM, 8th February 2024, About 3 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Seething Landlord at 08/02/2024 - 17:32
The report found unambiguously that additional loft insulation did not lead to reduced gas bills. German studies equally tried to blame 'human behaviour' for increased energy use after retrofitting. There were no measurements to compare whole house comfort with individual rooms or indeed added rooms. Post rationalisations were found for unexpected results. The fact is fluffy insulation in a loft, or applied externally, just gets cold very quickly. (Unlike the improved resistance of a cavity wall over a solid one). Most people think clothing is appropriate “insulation” for a building but to be effective it has to have you heating it from the inside. Unheated lofts with fluffy insulation just get cold quickly.

Seething Landlord

19:28 PM, 8th February 2024, About 3 months ago

Reply to the comment left by EPC Killjoy at 08/02/2024 - 19:17
"Unheated lofts with fluffy insulation just get cold quickly."

Of course they do. The insulation stops the heat from the house rising into the loft. I do not understand what point you are making.

EPC Killjoy

20:14 PM, 8th February 2024, About 3 months ago

But it doesn’t act as insulation and the studies prove it. I bet you have never done a U value calculation and like many of us, struggled with finding the thermal resistance of all the different materials in construction. The U value is the inverse of the resistance and applies to the direction of travel of the energy. Hot goes to cold, the fluffy ‘insulation’ has little mass to warm up so transfers what little heat it has to the cold damp draughty loft.

Seething Landlord

20:26 PM, 8th February 2024, About 3 months ago

Reply to the comment left by EPC Killjoy at 08/02/2024 - 20:14
So why is the loft colder than the room(s) below it?

Beaver

9:38 AM, 9th February 2024, About 3 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Seething Landlord at 08/02/2024 - 17:42
I suspect that protectionism would also increase inflation.

Beaver

10:30 AM, 9th February 2024, About 3 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Beaver at 09/02/2024 - 09:38
And on a matter related to policies designed to encourage us to install cavity wall insulation rather than find ways for us to generate power rather than use gas (which is becoming increasingly attractive), efforts to encourage us to use CWI haven't worked out well for many people.

https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/business/ssb-law-hundreds-face-losing-their-homes-after-signing-up-to-controversial-no-win-no-fee-legal-firm-which-collapsed-owing-ps48m-4510931

EPC Killjoy

10:43 AM, 9th February 2024, About 3 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Beaver at 09/02/2024 - 09:38
... and you and I can do something about it ?....

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