Should we get a new EPC?

Davesnave

RelievedSheff wrote: »

There is a section with recommended upgrades and what energy savings these would make.

Yes I'm aware of that having had 3 EPCs. Some or all of the measures are frequently not cost effective, and on a new house like yours, even less so.

What I meant was that a glance at the EPC ought to give the accurate basics of construction (quite often they're wrong) because other things flow naturally from that. This would be at the stage of clicking through Rightmove, not when you're about to purchase.

Accurate basic data would give people more incentive to learn about construction and the possibilities of making the house they choose cheaper to run at a sensible price.

It's not totally about payback in £ terms though. Our house is far nicer to live in now we've made significant improvements and keeping to a modest budget.

At present the problem is mainly that dodgy EPCs written by people with virtually no training, mean a seller or buyer can just laugh and say "It's probably wrong; look at the thickness of this wall!" etc

ComicGeek

Hexane wrote: »

Indeed, the figures and recommendations commonly generated by the EPC software seem to be 5 to 10 years out of date because the solar market has changed rapidly.

Yes, it's almost as if the software was written by an incompetent Government using inept consultants, and is never updated except to move the band goalposts. Oh, wait a minute....:T

ComicGeek

Davesnave wrote: »

At present the problem is mainly that dodgy EPCs written by people with virtually no training, mean a seller or buyer can just laugh and say "It's probably wrong; look at the thickness of this wall!" etc

I don't disagree, but the cause of that problem is the race to the bottom in terms of fees and the fact that you're expected to do it for £45 including all expenses. Supposedly I'm the type of professional that they were trying to do this work - I can either work for £20 an hour doing EPCs on the road, or £100-£200 an hour from the comfort of my office chair doing other work. So you're just left with people who have just done a 2 day training course and a simple exam.

Hexane

To answer the original question, should you get a new EPC? No, unless you're bored and want to spend £50 or so. There's nothing wrong with trying to improve the efficiency of a dwelling, it's just that most house buyers could not care less about whatever random results the average EPC presents. Recommendations of 2.5kW solar PV installs (pointless when you should be installing a 4kW system for less than the lowest price they mention) or spending £5K for solid floor insulation to save some dozens of pounds over three years, and so on, make the whole thing ludicrous.

But do replace all halogen lamps with LED ones. Right. Now.