Energy Performance Certificates: guide

Guidance on the use of Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) which provide information about how energy efficient a building is, and how the efficiency could be improved.

Overview

About Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs)

An EPC provides information about how energy efficient a building is, and how the efficiency could be improved. Buildings are rated on a scale from A to G, with A being the most efficient. The EPC also provides:

• information on measures which could be made to improve the energy efficiency of the building
• an indicati ve cost for each improvement

The EPC is accompanied by a recommendations report which provides more detailed information about improvement measures.

Consultation

We consulted on proposals to reform Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) from July to October 2023. This consultation included proposals to:

• ensure that EPCs remain a key source of information about a building’s energy efficiency for current and prospective building owners and tenants
• expand the metrics shown on EPCs to give a more holistic picture of a building’s energy efficiency (including ratings to reflect the energy efficiency of the building fabric)
• rename the existing metrics so that their meaning is clear
• review audit and assurance arrangements to ensure that EPCs provide robust and reliable information

Read more about our proposals in the consultation . We will update this guide when we issue our consultation response.