The National Retrofit Hub is collaborating with the entire retrofit sector to inform how Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) could be improved to support high-quality retrofit at scale.
We’re gathering insights from everyone driving this change to shape our recommendations and contribute to the upcoming government consultation on EPC reform. Together, we can make a real impact. Thank you for taking the time to share your views!

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* 1. Please select the professional role that best describes your position within the industry.

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* 2. In 2020, the Government launched the ‘EPC action plan’, which aimed to make EPCs accurate, reliable, and trusted. To what extent do you trust the overall rating and contents of an EPC?

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* 3. EPCs are intended to provide homeowners with information that could encourage them to improve their home’s energy performance. How effectively do you believe they achieve this?

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* 4. Access to green finance or green mortgages can often be linked to a home’s EPC rating. Do you think currently this works fairly to incentivise the upgrade of the nation’s homes?

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* 5. To what extent do the recommendations or metrics within EPC certificates influence your professional decisions, such as project planning, financial decisions, advising clients?

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* 6. Currently, policies aimed at meeting Net Zero targets use the Energy Efficiency Rating (EER), which is based on energy cost, as a key metric. Some experts suggest that using a metric based on predicted carbon emissions, such as the Environmental Impact Rating, might be more effective for these policies.

Which metric do you think should be prioritised when setting policies to meet Net Zero targets?

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* 7. The Energy Efficiency Rating (EER) is currently based on predicted energy costs and is used to guide policies aimed at reducing fuel poverty. Experts believe that this metric can help homeowners understand and manage their energy expenses, making it easier for them to take action to improve their homes. However, there are discussions about whether this metric is sufficient or if a different approach would be more effective.

In your opinion, should a metric based on predicted energy costs continue to be used to support homeowners and address fuel poverty, or do you think an alternative approach would be better?

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* 8. How important is it to expand EPCs to include information on a building's impact on the occupant’s
health, such as through indoor air quality and ventilation?

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* 9. What specific aspects of a building's impact on the occupant’s health would you prioritise?

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* 10. To what extent should real-world data, such as Smart Meter Data or a building’s Heat Transfer Coefficient, be incorporated into EPCs to improve their accuracy?

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* 11. We think that actions should be taken to make EPCs more accurate through incorporation of validated information and real-world data, and at the same time, those 40% of homes that do not have an EPC should be supported to access one.

How beneficial do you think it would be to introduce a ‘confidence rating’ that gives users an understanding of the level of tested information that has been used to generate an EPC, while allowing space for a low confidence rating, automatically generated EPC to be provided for hard-to-reach homes?

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* 12. How important is it for EPCs to include data on peak energy demand, and a rating for the measures in place in a home to provide energy demand flexibility, to help manage electricity grid capacity?

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* 13. A home’s standard of repair can have a big impact on its energy performance, particularly for historic buildings. How important is it to expand EPC recommendations to include repair and maintenance?

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* 14. As global temperatures continue to rise due to climate change, the risk of buildings overheating is becoming a significant concern. It is estimated that by the middle of the 2030s, 90% of the UK housing stock could be affected by overheating. This poses a threat to occupant comfort, health, and safety, especially in homes that are not designed to handle higher temperatures.

How important do you think it is to include a building's overheating risk in EPCs, along with recommendations for mitigation?

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* 15. EPCs are currently valid for 10 years and 40% of homes do not have an EPC. To what extent do you support introducing more ‘trigger points’ for generating or updating EPCs, e.g.: when replacing the home’s heating system, when a building transaction takes place or when a kitchen is replaced?

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* 16. If you have any final comments we would love to receive them. Please leave them below.

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