Energy Performance
Certificates (EPC)
The Energy Performance Certificates
(EPC) Site
With our national coverage of fully qualified domestic energy
assessors for residential energy performance certificates
and non-domestic energy assessors for commercial EPC's the
provision of certificates within 48 hours is now a part of
our service. However we have managed to insure that our prices
still remain one of the most competitive within the market
place.
All our technical managers have extensive knowledge of the
building industry, so you can rest assured they can help you
attain your EPC with the minimal of fuss.
Government legislation now requires all homes, commercial
properties and public buildings; being sold, built or leased
to make available an energy performance certificate to prospective
purchasers or tenants.
To find locate the relevant information please click on the
corresponding link below:
Our experience within the construction industry has given
us the knowledge to offer exceptional advice. We are a UKAS
accredited company so you can rest assured we offer an ongoing
professional service. We have built our reputation on:
• excellent service
• quick delivery
• flexibility to meet individual customers' needs
Our advice is free so call one of our senior technical
managers/engineers on 07775 623464 or 07967 233836.
The Energy Performance Certificate is similar to the certificates
found on many domestic appliances.
A Certificate for a building gives the building an asset rating
based on its energy efficiency. Data is collected by the domestic
energy assessor such as floor area, construction, insulation,
heating and lighting and inputted into a management software
programme. Certain assumptions are made on how the home is
used by the occupiers.
The EPC produced will give the building a rating from A to
G. An A rating shows it's very efficient, meaning lower fuel
bills, while G is inefficient, meaning higher fuel bills.
The Certificate will also show the building's environmental
impact by indicating its carbon-dioxide emissions.
The EPC will also show recommendations as to how the property
could be made more energy and cost efficient. The Potential
ratings included within the Energy Survey indicate the effects
of each recommendation.
Commercial EPC (for commercial properties)
APT-EPC provides affordable Commercial Energy Performance
Certificates (EPC) for businesses that are being sold or leased
in the United Kingdom. With effect from the 4th January 2009
the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive dictates that
a Commercial EPC's will be required upon construction, sale
or lease for all non-dwellings, covering everything from small
retail units to offices, industrial units and large scale
commercial premises such as airports and public buildings.
Responsibility for enforcement in newly built properties will
fall to Building Control, whilst Trading Standards departments
will enforce certification of existing buildings. The legislation
does have exemptions; for advice on your requirements please
contact our commercial EPC department at apt@aptenergyperformancecertificates.co.uk
for definitive answers.
Please contact us at apt@aptenergyperformancecertificates.co.uk
or fill the online
form to receive a quote.
If you prefer to speak to an advisor regarding EPC compliance
or seek general information please call one of our one technical
team on either 07775 623464 or 07967 233836 or e-mail us at:
apt@aptenergyperformancecertificates.co.uk
for further advice.
A commercial EPC provides an energy rating for a building
which is based on the performance potential of that building.
Services such as lighting, heating and ventilation) are taken
into account as well as the way in which these services are
controlled. The now industry standardised A - G energy rating
given on the certificate will reflect the intrinsic energy
performance standard of the building relative to a benchmark.
This rating could then be used by potential buyers or tenants
to make comparisons between properties. The commercial EPC
is accompanied by a secondary report that provides recommendations
on how the energy performance of the building could be enhanced,
together with an indication of the payback period. These recommendations
are provided in four categories relating to the payback period.
Like residential assessments APT-EPC assessors are trained
to the highest of standards to assess the recommendation report
and amend recommendations where appropriate. This makes the
report much more suitable to your specific needs. Our experience
in commercial property and energy assessment methods allows
us to offer the very best and most up to date information.
Display Energy Certificates (DEC’s)
Display Energy Certificates (DEC’s) show the actual
energy usage of a building, the Operational Rating, and help
the public see the energy efficiency of a building. This is
based on the energy consumption of the building as recorded
by gas, electricity and other meters. The DEC should be clearly
displayed at all times and clearly visible to the public.
A DEC is always accompanied by an Advisory Report that lists
cost effective measures to improve the energy rating of the
building.
Display Energy Certificates are only required for buildings
with a total useful floor area over 1,000m2 that are occupied
by a public authority and institution providing a public service
to a large number of persons and therefore visited by those
persons. They are valid for one year.
The accompanying Advisory Report is valid for seven years.
The requirement for Display Energy Certificates comes into
effect from 1 October 2008.
Having worked closely with several large companies and authorities
all over England and Wales for the past 12 months APT-EPC
can bring the knowledge and experience to any DEC project.
If you require advice on any area of compliance or seek general
information on DEC’s please call one our technical team
on either 07775 623464 or 07967 233836 or e-mail us at: apt@epc.co.uk
for further advice
SAP Ratings for Dwellings
At APT-EPC we recognise that deciding on sustainable, environmentally
efficient construction is no longer simply a question of conscience.
The UK Government is putting in place strategies that will
aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, particularly carbon
dioxide, which research has proved to be a major contributing
factor to global warming. One such strategy involves the long
awaited modification to Part L1 of the Building Regulations,
which came into effect in April 2002. These amendments insist
upon the calculation of a Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP)
rating for all new dwellings and those converted through material
change of use. The requirements also necessitate that the
Rating is displayed in the property upon completion.
The regulations were amended in 2006 with the introduction
of Approved Document L1A for New Build and L1B for Existing
Homes including Extensions.
If you require advice on any area of compliance or seek general
information on SAP ratings call one of our technical team
on either 07775 623464 or 07967 233836 or e-mail us at: apt@aptenergyperformancecertificates.co.uk
for further advice.
» Please download our SAP
TIPS document
» Please Download Our SAP
DATA CHECKLIST
» Please download our BUILDING
DATA FORM
(explains information we require from clients to work out
their respective results)
» Please Download Our SBEM
DATA CHECKLIST
SBEM Ratings for Commercial Properties
What is an SBEM?
SBEM (Simplified Building Energy Model) is a Government-defined
process in accordance with Part L Building Control Regulations,
which results in a calculation of the energy performance of
new commercial/industrial/retail buildings.
Will my Project require a SBEM?
Yes, from 7th April 2006 all new buildings require an SBEM
Calculation.
What will I need to do to comply?
There are 2 stages - the first stage (called the 'design'
stage) needs to be completed and submitted to your Building
Control Body or Approved Inspector at the same time as your
Building Control Application.
The second stage (called the 'as-built' stage) comes into
force when the build is completed and a 'pass' Certificate
will need to be produced for presentation to your Inspector.
Please note: Your Building Control Officer or Approved Inspector
may request a re-submission of the SBEM Calculation if any
changes are made to the specification after the design stage
has been submitted.
How can APT-EPC help?
Our aim is to help you achieve a 'pass' and we provide the
following:
• Advice on how to achieve a 'pass'
• Friendly, helpful, experienced Team
• Advice and recommendations
• Detailed Report for each building
» Please download our SAP
TIPS document
» Please Download Our SAP
DATA CHECKLIST
How much can you save by improving energy efficiency
We all think we have done enough to improve our homes, but
how many of us have? And when it comes to the crunch, just
how much can be saved and how? let’s have a look at
how much can be saved in the average home across a number
of simple and inexpensive areas of improvement.
Insulation.
Insulating a home is simple and essential as heat escapes
via many different ways. Windows, doors and walls are all
susceptible to heat loss, and insulating these areas effectively
can bring surprising savings in the home.
Take the popular route of cavity wall insulation; this is
relatively inexpensive these days as it is a routine procedure,
and it can save in excess of £100 in a year. Given the
purchase price, the home owner should see it pay for itself
in three years.
Insulating ones loft to a greater degree is another simple
and cost effective measure, and given that it saves around
approx £100 annually for the average house can easily
recoup the initial expenditure in a couple of years.
Fitting double glazing is often cited as an expensive method
of improving efficiency, though it can save £40 yearly,
while simply draught proofing those areas where cold spots
seem to live can see saving of over £30 and the cost
recouped in just three years.
Another accurate way of improving energy efficiancy would
be undertaking a smoke pressurisation Test, this would quickly
find all areas of potential air leakage through the buildings
envelope, and this can reduce heating costs by approx 40%.
If you want to find out more about this service please contact
us now at apt@aptenergyperformancecertificates.co.uk
All of these measures are simple and can be done quickly and
at little expense, and all add to the energy efficiency of
a home without any doubt at all.
Other Energy Saving Advice
It is not only insulating the structure of the house that
can save money; effectively lagging a hot water tank can result
in some impressive savings, with costs recovered in just a
year. Improving or replacing old and outdated devices is also
worthy of consideration; a new central heating boiler, for
example, can save as much as £200 in a year and the
outlay be recovered in five years. Modern boilers are supremely
efficient and an up to date condensing combi-boiler is certainly
something one should be looking at in terms of improving the
home’s energy efficiency.
Much has been written of late regarding energy efficient light
bulbs, and much is scaremongering of a surprising nature.
The newest versions are very efficient, reach full power almost
instantly and are no more expensive than the traditional bulb;
what’s more, fitting them across the board has been
shown to save a notable amount of money, with £10 a
year cited in many quarters.
Switching appliances off stand-by, keeping doors and windows
closed and hanging heavier curtains in winter are all common
sense approaches to increasing ones energy efficiency, and
if it saves money then it must be a good thing. For very little
effort one can induce savings of a serious nature.
Alongside trying to reduce consumption one should look at
reducing your energy bills and expenditure, uSwitch.com
is one of the comparison sites which can help you make comparisons
with suppliers and often save you substantial amounts on your
gas and electric bills.
If you require individualised information related to the energy
efficiency of your property, there is no reason why you cannot
commission an Energy Performance Certificate and follow the
recommendations found within it, contact us now at apt@epc.co.uk
for more information
We carry out hundreds of projects per year and guarantee to
be professional, reliable, helpful and very competitive; we
offer a last minute service at no extra cost, and we also
undertake weekend working both on Saturday and Sunday in order
to meet your out of hours testing requirements. We offer a
nationwide service offering a single supplier for all of your
regional offices and projects.
Most of our clients, who use us for the first time, continue
to use our services because of our
proactive consultancy and testing service. This proactive
approach has led to nationwide agreements with some of the
top UK Contractors, which allows them to benefit from even
more competitive rates.
If you have any questions or queries please don’t hesitate
to contact us:
By Mobile - 07967 233836 & 0777 562 3464 (available 7am to 8pm)
By Fax - 01582 896 709
By E-mail - apt@aptenergyperformancecertificates.co.uk
ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATES
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