EPCs - How to get a better grade.

silvercar

Dead energy efficient light bulbs count for more than having no light bulbs fitted. So keep old ones to put in just before an EPC!

Cozworth806

The assessor we had did say that storage heaters hurt a rating far more than any other item as they can be so inefficient.
The problem is that unless you want to spend money on it the only itmes that are really cheap to do are light bulbs and lagging the tank if you have one.

shirlgirl2004

I for one look at the EPC but like to read the breakdown because from looking at the pretty picture you can't tell why a property scored low. If it got lots of points for low energy light bulbs I'd probably mentally discount that bit because that is something I would do fairly cheaply anyway. Now a condensing boiler would leave me impressed but it just isn't realistic to do just to get a higher rating.

Bongedone

Cozworth806 wrote: »

The assessor we had did say that storage heaters hurt a rating far more than any other item as they can be so inefficient.
The problem is that unless you want to spend money on it the only itmes that are really cheap to do are light bulbs and lagging the tank if you have one.

Only if the home is not insulated correctly. If you have no insulation then they will be useless. I use the EPC's software and have tested this scenario. New build flats nearly always have storage heaters and they achieve B ratings.

An open fire can drop a rating also as can a conservatory that is not sealed from the house.

pawpurrs

I was under the impression that just having low energy bulbs does not make a difffernce the actual fittings have to be the type that only hold ESB as otherwise they can just be removed. That is what I was told by my accessor, as all my bulbs are ESB, but I was marked down regardless as they are just bulbs not fittings?

Bongedone

pawpurrs wrote: »

I was under the impression that just having low energy bulbs does not make a difffernce the actual fittings have to be the type that only hold ESB as otherwise they can just be removed. That is what I was told by my accessor, as all my bulbs are ESB, but I was marked down regardless as they are just bulbs not fittings?

I don't take notice of fittings.

I will put a survey in today. One without the bulbs and then one with them and post back the resulting changes later.

Evee2000

Bongedone wrote: »

Only if the home is not insulated correctly. If you have no insulation then they will be useless. I use the EPC's software and have tested this scenario. New build flats nearly always have storage heaters and they achieve B ratings.

An open fire can drop a rating also as can a conservatory that is not sealed from the house.

Sorry, don't agree. I've been assessing since 2007. Every single property that I have assessed with storage heating has attracted a very poor rating. Many of the new build flats that I have assessed have also had electric panel heaters (zone controlled).

Whilst possibly being cheaper to run (on an economy 7 tariff), storage heaters use more electricity, hence a poor environmental impact rating.

Evee2000

pawpurrs wrote: »

I was under the impression that just having low energy bulbs does not make a difffernce the actual fittings have to be the type that only hold ESB as otherwise they can just be removed. That is what I was told by my accessor, as all my bulbs are ESB, but I was marked down regardless as they are just bulbs not fittings?

Absolute rubbish - regardless of the fitting, if there is a LEB it is counted. The only scenario where this will not count is where the bulb is located in a lamp, which you will be taking with you when you move home.

pawpurrs

Well ok, my house is all lamps, and no light fittings, so that still counts for me then!

Bongedone

Evee2000 wrote: »

Sorry, don't agree. I've been assessing since 2007. Every single property that I have assessed with storage heating has attracted a very poor rating. Many of the new build flats that I have assessed have also had electric panel heaters (zone controlled).

Whilst possibly being cheaper to run (on an economy 7 tariff), storage heaters use more electricity, hence a poor environmental impact rating.

I am also a SAP assessor. Yes they have a poor environmental impact but I own a B rated flat with storage heaters. It is possible you just have not had one yet. I must admit that other than my own I have not had a flat with storage heaters score very well.

You are correct that quite a few new builds have panel heaters. That is shocking really. One of my friends has a new build like that.