The Energy Performance Certificate

For Properties For Sale

The energy efficiency rating is a measure of the overall efficiency of a home. The higher the rating the more energy efficient the home is and the lower the fuel bills will be.

The environmental impact rating is a measure of a home's impact on the environment in terms of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The higher the rating the less impact it has on the environment.

One of the biggest contributors to global warming is carbon dioxide. The way we use energy in buildings causes emissions of carbon. The energy we use for heating, lighting and power in homes produces over a quarter of the UK's carbon dioxide emissions and other buildings produce a further one-sixth.

The average household causes about 6 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year. Adopting the recommendations in this report can reduce emissions and protect the environment. You could reduce emissions even more by switching to renewable energy sources. In addition there are many simple every day measures that will save money, improve comfort and reduce the impact on the environment, such as:

• Check that your heating system thermostat is not set too high (in a home, 21ºC in the living room is suggested) and use the timer to ensure you only heat the building when necessary.
• Make sure your hot water is not too hot - a cylinder thermostat need not normally be higher than 60ºC
• Turn off lights when not needed and do not leave appliances on standby. Remember not to leave chargers (e.g. for mobile phones) turned on when you are not using them.