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Our residential team recently had a great morning with Elmhurst Energy’s Alistair Galloway who informed us on some very important forthcoming changes to Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs). These changes will be launched in Spring 2024 with the aims of improving the accuracy and comprehensiveness of EPCs on existing residential dwellings. This will mean our surveyors will be in your home for slightly longer than before although the benefits of improved accuracy will be worthwhile. The changes include the following: –
- Assessors will be required to measure all windows – This will allow for data obtained to be more reflective of the subject being assessed, whilst also representing a move away from the assumption of typical glazing areas.
- Additional options for roof rooms – Assessors will be required to take a couple of additional measurements in order to capture the different construction types of any common wall and gable walls.
- New age band – Introduction of new age band for properties built from 2023 onwards to show improvement in u-values.
- Assessors can account for PV diverters and battery storage – When present in the property, assessors will be able to account for PV diverters and battery storage.
- Heat Pumps to be recommended more – The government’s low carbon solution of choice, Heat Pumps, will be appearing more often as a recommended improvement measure, under certain conditions, e.g., the property has to be fairly well insulated.
- Energy costs to be updated every 6 months – This will reflect current fuel costs more accurately, providing customers with better estimates.
EPCs are required when selling or renting a residential property in Scotland. They are also required by Home Energy Scotland when applying for funding for energy saving improvements. Graham + Sibbald have a team of fully-qualified Domestic Energy Assessors across the whole of Scotland who are able to provide the best advice in making your home as energy-efficient as possible.
