Improved energy efficiency is great in theory, but how do we put it into practice in our own homes? How do we figure out the efficiency of our own homes? How do we address issues that are leading to steep energy costs? Who are the energy experts available to help us steer this journey towards a healthier home and lower bills?
We take pride in assisting households from start to end with domestic energy services. Our qualified Retrofit Assessors make home energy assessments straightforward and stress-free, and our local energy experts will assist you in addressing energy issues that are costing you money at home.
Let’s break down what you need to know and the tools you’ll need to get started on your path to greater home energy efficiency.
Your EPC is the first thing you’ll need.
Your EPC, or Energy Performance Certificate, is an official document that recognises your property’s energy efficiency and total environmental impact. It is the standard against which the fabric of your building is tested in terms of energy preservation capabilities and carbon footprint. Your EPC should be able to tell you which areas of improvement will allow you to improve your home’s thermal efficiency, raise your rating, and lower your bills.
How to Locate Your EPC
The last time you saw your EPC was probably when you moved house, whether it was rented, bought, or sold*. It is a legal document that landlords and property owners must have before any movement along the property chain can occur. This is usually when we get a close look at our EPC.
If you cannot find a copy of your EPC among your documents at home, you can always fill out the form below and we will be able to locate and supply you with the most recent copy of your EPC. You can also access the EPC register here.
Alternatively, you can submit your details below and we will check your EPC for you;
*Homeowners not sold or rented pre-2007 will not have an EPC, but a new EPC will be created for you as part of our Retrofit Assessment. A standalone EPC can also be created if required.
Breaking down what your home’s EPC says
The first thing your Energy Performance Certificate should tell you is your overall energy efficiency rating, which is normally assigned a letter from A to G. You’ll also notice a potential energy efficiency rating, which shows which rating you could be on if you make the necessary modifications.
Individual energy performance ratings are then assigned (from very good to poor, or out of five stars in Scotland.) Energy performance-related characteristics include walls, floors, and windows. lights, boilers, and radiators.
Following that, your property’s overall environmental impact will be evaluated from A to G, demonstrating how your household behaviour affects the surrounding community.
Finally, your EPC will be able to tell you how to enhance your property’s energy performance by providing a list of recommended actions in priority order as well as the usual yearly savings that you can expect if these modifications are implemented.
Do you want to raise your home’s energy efficiency rating?
Now that you’ve obtained your EPC and reviewed its existing rating, your home’s total environmental effect, and a breakdown of proposed changes, it’s time to put your EPC into action.
The next step is to have a Home Energy Assessment, also know as a Retrofit Assessment.
What exactly is a Home Energy Assessment?
During a Home Energy Assessment (or Retrofit Assessment,) a qualified Retrofit Assessor will inspect your property, review its current up-to-date energy performance, and evaluate which home improvements are required to accelerate the improvement of efficiency in your home.
Consider your assessor to be a living, breathing representative of your EPC; someone who can represent your house’s energy efficiency needs.
Home Energy Assessments typically take a couple of hours and include an in-depth evaluation of your existing home installation, heating systems, and everything else that consumes energy to power your home.
Home Energy Assessments:
Demonstrate how your home is currently functioning in terms of energy efficiency and how it affects your utility bills.
Identify any existing problem areas that need to be addressed
Prioritise proposed solutions and their related costs
Provide recommendations for future steps to make those changes as stress-free and inexpensive as possible
The Advantages of a Home Energy Assessment (or Retrofit Assessment)
Home Energy Assessments or Retrofit Assessments take the details of your EPC to the next level and give an accurate, precise and totally productive picture of what you need to do to increase the energy efficiency standards of your home, to live more comfortably in the most cost-effective way possible.
A home energy plan developed by your home energy assessor can help you secure government financing for free (or highly subsidised) energy efficiency measures, making the process of renovating your house much easier and faster.
How can I contact a Home energy Assessor?
Good news; you’re already in contact with one. Residential Energy Services has over ten years of energy advice experience and a well-trained knowledgeable team of advisors and assessors who are currently travelling the country, visiting vulnerable households to address urgent energy efficiency measures and secure homeowners’ journeys towards a warmer healthier home.
If you have your EPC ready and want to schedule your assessment, simply fill out the form below and we will contact you.
