The Scottish Government has recently consulted on the reforming of the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).

The first phase on this consultation focused on adding the new metric of ‘Energy Use’. Elmhurst has long advocated for any improvements to the format of the EPC that makes it more accessible to the building owners and/or occupiers or anyone else associated with its regular use, particularly defining the metrics.

In Summary:

• A clearer, more precise EPC will be created showing all metrics (energy, cost and carbon).
• No changes need to be made to the current data collection made during an EPC assessment.
• The changes made will help to educate the building owner/or occupiers to better understand the different measures required to improve the energy efficiency of their property in order to reduce the demand for heat, the changes required to have a zero emissions heating system and the impact this has on the properties running costs.
• This additional metric will help to highlight any areas where Government support is required due to the increased running costs of many zero emissions systems in turn helping to move away from fuel poverty.
• The changes will promote energy advice.
• The EPC would benefit from a visual on all three metrics linking up to the recommendations.

Existing Dwellings Team Leader, Damien Roberts:

“This is a really positive step in the evolution of the EPC and our energy assessment industry. It will allow any new government policies to focus on specific targets such as reducing fuel poverty, reducing carbon emissions and improving energy efficiency of dwellings. We need to ensure that phase two of the consultation focuses on aligning the rest of the EPC especially the recommendations with the three metrics.”

Read Elmhurst Energy’s draft response to Domestic EPC Reform Consultation.