What is an EPC?

The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive 2002/91/EC (EPBD) was passed into law by the European Parliament in December 2002 and adopted by the 25 Member States, including the UK, in January 2003.

The main aim of the Directive is to promote the improvement of energy performance of buildings and it is left to each member state to develop a framework for energy performance calculation.

The aim is to achieve a 22% reduction in consumption by 2010.  EPCs came into force in England and Wales in August of last year as part of the Home Information Packs (HIPS) scheme.  There are no plans to introduce HIPs into Northern Ireland.

All social landlords must provide a valid EPC for each tenant prior to the signing of a tenancy agreement.

The European Commission's Directive* on The Energy Performance of Buildings (EPBD) aims to promote improved energy efficiency through energy performance certificates.  All buildings will be required to have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) before they can be marketed for sale or rent.  This means that every property brochure must either carry all five pages of the certificate, or reproduce the colour graphs showing the energy assessment and Carbon Dioxide (Co2) impact.

*European Performance of Buildings Directive 2002/91/EC (EPBD