A new report from consumer group Which? has found that Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are not living up to their potential to provide valuable information and guidance to consumers on improving the energy efficiency of their homes.
The report, titled “Unlocking the Potential of EPCs for Consumers,” examines how EPCs are currently being used by homeowners and renters, and identifies the areas where changes are needed to make them more effective.
Key findings from the report include:
• Awareness of EPC ratings remains low, with only 36% of the UK population knowing or having a sense of their EPC rating.
• Many EPCs do not accurately assess a home’s energy efficiency, and the metrics used can be confusing for consumers.
• EPCs often lack important information to help consumers transition from fossil fuel heating to low-carbon alternatives.
• The presentation and accessibility of EPCs needs improvement to make the information more useful for consumers.
To address these issues, the report calls on the UK and Scottish governments to take action in three key areas:
• Providing better information and advice on EPCs, including multiple headline metrics, more details on heating systems and renewable energy options, and clearer guidance on improving energy efficiency.
• Improving the accessibility of EPCs, such as through the development of apps and online tools that allow consumers to easily understand and interact with the information.
• Enhancing the accuracy and reliability of EPCs, by promoting higher standards for assessors, regularly updating the underlying model, and requiring more frequent EPC updates.
The report also advises including new information to help consumers move away from fossil fuel heating. This includes details on local renewable and heat network opportunities drawn from the Local Energy Action Plans that all Local Authorities are now required to develop. It also wants improved links to reliable sources of further advice and support.
The group also says accessibility must be improved, through more user-friendly digital platforms. These should empower homeowners to input their own data for customised estimates and cost comparisons of different upgrades.
Commenting on the release of the report, Daniel Särefjord, Aira UK CEO, says: “The Which? policy paper shows that the Energy Performance Certificate regime is outdated, counterintuitive and badly designed to meet consumer demand for accurate home energy efficiency ratings. EPCs should have a greater focus on the impact of the home on the climate, a metric that is lacking at this time.
“Which? repeatedly highlights the integral role that heat pumps will play in decarbonising our homes, as we take on the largest domestic source of CO2 and Europe’s third largest carbon emitter – residential heating. Today, a family installing a modern heat pump can cut their heating related CO2 emissions by 75%, rising to 100% when using green electricity, but this is not accurately reflected in their EPC rating.
“Under the current regime, a homeowner with a net zero home, will not necessarily be awarded an EPC A rating. Future reform of the EPC system should reflect the reality of a home’s financial and environmental cost with a transparent, easy-to-understand methodology. This is the sort of information that is increasingly being demanded by the modern consumer.”
