An Energy Performance Certificate shows the official energy efficiency rating of a property. If you're not planning to sell your home, you don't need to do anything.

The certificate provides you with a rating for the building, showing its energy efficiency and its environmental impact on a scale from A-G (where A is the most efficient and G the least efficient), in graphical format. It also contains recommended ways to improve the building's energy performance.

By 2009, all buildings in the UK that are constructed, sold or rented out will have to have an Energy Performance Certificate, in accordance with the European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.

Predicted and interim energy assessments
Predicted energy assessments are for homes that are not yet built. When a home is designed, a predicted energy rating based on the design is produced. This must achieve, as a minimum, the target energy rating laid down for the home as specified by the energy efficiency requirements of building regulations.

Interim energy assessments are for new homes built in accordance with the energy efficiency requirements of the building regulations that came into force in April 2006. For these homes, only the energy-efficiency and environmental-impact graphs will be required, and not the full Energy Performance Certificate.

See also on our site

What's in a Pack? > Compulsory Items > EPCs
Energy Performance Certificates are a compulsory part of the Pack

External links

Energy Performance of Buildings
Key info from the Communities and Local Government site

The Energy Saving Trust
Advice on saving energy, improving your home and accessing grants

Climate Challenge
Information on the Government's Climate Change Communication Initiative

The European Commission
Information on the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive

Environment and Greener Living
Section about green issues on the Directgov site