Helping you save energy.
All domestic and commercial buildings in Scotland available to buy or rent must have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).
If you own a home, getting an energy performance survey done could help you identify ways to save money on your energy bills.
Much like the multi-coloured sticker on new appliances, EPCs tell you how energy efficient a building is and give it a rating from A (very efficient) to G (inefficient).
They let the person who will use the building know how costly it will be to heat and light, and what its carbon dioxide emissions are likely to be.
Once produced EPCs are valid for ten years.
The EPC will also state what the energy efficiency rating could be if improvements are made, and highlights cost-effective ways to achieve a better rating.
Even if you rent your home, some improvements noted on the EPC might be worth your while - like switching to more energy efficient light bulbs.
If you're selling or renting out a commercial building, or renting out a domestic property, you must get an approved Energy Performance Assessor to produce the EPC.
If you're selling a domestic property you will need an Energy Report (which includes an EPC) as part of your Home Report. This can only be produced by a chartered surveyor registered with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
If you already own your home, the process of getting an EPC produced can help you identify ways to improve the energy efficiency of your home. As EPC's are valid for ten years, you will then have an accurate EPC ready for your Home Report if later you decide to sell. (Unless you improve your home subsequently, in which case you may wish to get a fresh EPC done to include those improvements.)
In Scotland, only organisations approved by the Scottish Government can produce valid EPCs. Visit the Scottish Government website to find a list of approved EPC organisations.
If you are selling your home through a selling agent, you should ask them to arrange for a Home Report (which will include an Energy Report and EPC) to be made
Energy Reports can only be produced by chartered surveyors registered with RICs. Find a surveyor on the RICs website.
For more information on Home Reports, including EPCs, please visit the Scottish Government's Home Report web pages.
Alternatively, contact your local Energy Saving Scotland advice centre
You could save around £250 on your energy bills
