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HIPs / EPCs / DEAs? Descriptions & Definitions.

The main aim of this section is to give you an understanding of what an EPC is as this is the main service that i-DEA provides. However, before we do that it is important to highlight that there have been a number of changes made to the property market since 01 August 2007. You may have heard mention of EPCs, HIPs and DEAs, but what does all this mean.

We hope the brief explanation at the start of this page will give you a better understanding. Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any queries on the information below.

1. DEAs
DEAs = Domestic Energy Assessors. DEA's are responsible for visiting a property that is to be marketed for sale. The DEA will perform an inspection of the property and from the information gathered during that inspection an EPC is created. Inspections should last around one hour, although this can vary depending upon the size of the property.

2. EPCs
EPCs = Energy Performance Certificates. These certificates form an essential part of the HIP. They not only offer an overview of the property's energy efficiency but also offer recommendations on how the property's energy efficiency can be improved.

3. HIPs.
HIPs = Home Informantion Packs. From 01 August 2007 all residential homes that are marketed for sale will require a HIP to be produced for each property. Initially, this applied to houses with four or more bedrooms, however from 10 September 2007 three bedroom properties will require a HIP. All other properties will also require a HIP in the near future.

What is an EPC?
An Energy Performance Certificate forms an important part of a Home Information Pack. The EPC is a comprehensive energy report which aims to encourage buyers and sellers to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. EPC's are now required on all houses and flats, from one bedroom flats through to the biggest mansions. From October 2008 EPCs will be required for all rental properties.

The certificates are commissioned by the seller (or their agent) from an accredited Energy Assessor (such as i-DEA). The DEA would then visit the property to collect the relevant data and create the certificate. The property's efficiency is based on numerous factors such as the date of construction, location of the house and relevant fittings such as heating systems, energy efficient lighting, insulation or double glazing.

Why are EPC's Important?
To help cut our carbon emissions.

Did you know that nearly 40% of the UK's energy consumption arises from the way in which our 25 million buildings are lit, heated and used? The picture below shows how the average home loses energy in the form of heat.

Even comparatively minor changes in energy performance and the way we use each building will have a significant effect in reducing energy consumption - and therefore carbon emissions.

Communities and Local Government (CLG) is leading the introduction of a number of energy and cost-saving measures to make all buildings more efficient. These measures are being applied across all European Union countries and are in line with the European Directive for the Energy Performance of Buildings (EPBD 2003) and the Housing Act 2004.

The Energy Performance Certificate is part of these new measures to improve property efficiency. It will include suggestions to enable homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of the building. The benefit to you is that these recommendations, if acted upon, can mean lower energy bills for you, and could make homes more attractive to potential purchasers.

The EPC will also provide contact details for the Energy Savings Trust, who can help you find out whether you could be eligible for grants or discounts to help carry out these improvements to your home. It will also list simple ways that changes in behaviour can save you energy and money - without the need for any works to your property.

What the Certificate Means.
The Energy Performance Certificate is similar to the certificates now provided with domestic appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines. An example is shown below.

Its purpose is to record how energy-efficient a property is as a building. The certificate will provide a rating of the property from A to G, where A is very efficient and G is very inefficient.

Two ratings are shown. The environmental impact rating (shown on the right in the example above) is a measure of a home's impact on the environment in terms of carbon dioxide (C02) emissions - the higher the rating, the less impact it has on the environment. The energy-efficiency rating (shown of the left) is a measure of a home's overall efficiency. The higher the rating, the more energy-efficient the home is, and the lower the fuel bills are likely to be.

Each rating is based on the performance of the building itself and its services (such as heating and lighting), rather than the domestic appliances within it or the number of people living in the property. This is known as an asset rating. The certificate also lists the potential rating of the building if all the cost-effective measures were installed.

The ratings will vary according to the age, location, size and condition of the building. The potential rating on the certificate will take these factors into account, and the suggested measures will be tailored so that they are realistic for the particular building.

To download a sample EPC in pdf format please click here.

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