Progress report released on improving Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs)
The Government has released a progress report on the ‘EPC Action Plan’ which was originally published in September 2020.
What is the EPC Action Plan?
Following a call for evidence released to industry in 2018, the government published the Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) for Buildings Action Plan which identified 35 key actions that would improve the efficiency and effectiveness of EPCs to deliver:
- An EPC system that produces accurate, reliable and trusted EPCs
- An EPC that engages consumers and supports policies to drive action
- A data infrastructure fit for the future of EPCs
What progress has been made so far?
| A complete overview of the progress made by government so far can be viewed here. |
The EPC action plan is being overseen by both the Department for Levelling up Housing & Communities (DLUHC) and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), which reflects just how important the EPC is for policymakers.
According to them, of the 35 actions listed within the plan, only eleven have yet to be progressed as they will require changes to the Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 2012 (EPB Regulations), for which there will be a consultation published in 2022.
Completed actions include the transition to the new EPC Register, improving the presentation of cost data on EPCs, updating the format to include information about government policies that rely on EPC ratings, publishing an extended Open Data dataset, and consulting on options for the introduction of a new operational ratings scheme for non-domestic buildings.
Elmhurst’s Managing Director, Stuart Fairlie, comments: “Elmhurst are fully engaging with government in order to ensure that progress continues to be made with the ‘plan’. There is still some way to go, and with energy performance policy continuing to lean on the EPC, it is important to get these actions completed sooner rather than later. Elmhurst has been advocating for updates to the EPC and EPC system for some time, with calls for a reduction to the 10 year validity period, increased trigger points and a move to provide energy efficiency information on both the building and how it is occupied (more in our manifesto) We are of course pleased to see some progress being made and will continue to provide support and expertise in this area”.
Full progress report: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/improving-energy-performance-certificates-action-plan-progress-report/improving-energy-performance-certificates-action-plan-progress-report