The consultation set out a range of proposals to change the format of domestic Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) to better equip homeowners and/or occupiers to make informed decisions about improvements to their home’s energy efficiency and heating systems.
Our response was broadly supportive of the format proposed by the Scottish Government which contained three metrics (energy use rating, carbon emissions rating and energy cost rating) and we agreed that this would help owners and/or occupiers make decisions about improving the energy performance of their homes. However, our response argues that the addition of an energy demand rating would be more appropriate than an energy use rating because an energy use rating could drive reductions in energy use by installing more efficient heating systems but not reductions in ultimate energy demand for the building that is being heated.