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An Energy Performance Certificate, generally referred to as an EPC, tells you how energy efficient your property is and gives it a rating from A (very efficient) to G (inefficient). It provides an estimate of the energy costs to heat and light your home, and what its carbon dioxide emissions are likely to be. 

An EPC also includes information on what the energy efficiency rating could be if you made the improvements that are recommended. It also shows what these are typically likely to cost and what the savings are likely to be. A physical survey of the property needs to be carried out by an accredited Domestic Energy Assessor in order to obtain the information.

All domestic and commercial buildings in the UK available to buy or rent must have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), all EPC’s are valid for a period of 10 years. An EPC tells you how energy efficient a building is and will give you a rating of A (Very Efficient) – G (Inefficient).

An EPC will give the person who will use the building an understanding of how energy efficient the property is along with any cost-effective ways to achieve a better rating along with potential savings to be made for the future by carrying out these recommendations.

EPCs are a legal requirement whenever a property is built, sold or rented and therefore if you're selling or renting your property you will need to obtain an EPC if there isn’t a valid one in existence.

The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) for domestic and commercial for property is an EPC rating of E.

Retrofit is simply the process of making changes to existing buildings so that energy consumption and emissions are reduced.

This can be achieved by implementing a variety of measures and could include replacing a heating system, improving the ventilation and air quality, installing renewable technologies, improving insulation or in some cases all of these.

How does Retrofit work? 

A typical project would include the following steps: 

A qualified Retrofit Professional will visit your property to find out everything they need to know about your existing energy usage and the building itself.

They’ll talk to you about the type of improvements you want to carry out and what you’re looking to achieve. 

They’ll also want to understand how you and any other occupants use your home. This is one of the most important parts of the process. 

A report will be produced that will show you what you can do to reduce your energy bills and emissions and make your home more comfortable and healthier to live in. 

It is a bespoke plan and design for the whole of your home, detailing all the measures you could take to make your home as energy efficient as possible. It will also include recommendations on which measures are the most cost-effective, have the most impact and in which order to carry them out. 

The most important thing about the plan is that it does not have to all be done at once, but it identifies measures that can be carried out in different stages to suit your budget, lifestyle and what you want to achieve. 

Step 2 – Prepare a Whole House plan The Retrofit Professional will agree the plan with you, explaining anything you’re not sure about and clarifying any details. This may cover just one phase of the works, as explained above, if that’s what you choose to carry out. 

Step 3 – Agree the plan and gather quotes The Retrofit Professional can also oversee the project and they’ll be able to explain how they will work with you until it is completed. If you’re happy to proceed, they can then gather quotes for the works from approved retrofit contractors so you can be sure that work will be carried out to the right quality standards. Ã It is always your decision who you appoint to carry out the works. Once you’ve decided on which contractor you want to carry out the works, it’s always advisable to have a contract in place so that you are both clear on what is agreed and you are protected. Once signed, works can commence. Your Retrofit Professional can manage the project from start to finish, monitoring work along the way. They are responsible for protecting your interests. 

Step 4 – Sign contracts and start work If you already have a project manager for example, an architect or surveyor that is overseeing the works, you may prefer that they do this for you. When the work is completed, the Retrofit Professional or your project manager should check that work has been delivered as expected and completed to all the required quality standards.

Significant improvements need to be made to the energy efficiency of the UK's housing stock, if the country is to meet its global carbon commitments.

What is the scope of the retrofit assessor?

The scope of the process includes:

• Assessment of dwellings for retrofit
• Identification and evaluation of improvement options as part of the design process
• Monitoring and Evaluation of retrofit projects