EPC Rating Timing

Warlord2001c · Jan 27, 2013

Hi Everyone,

First post!!! Having my install in the next few weeks but Father in law also interested however his property significantly older (1960's Semi, solid walls, little to no loft insulation).

Long story short we reckon he could be an E rating now and a D once he has Solar PV so does that mean he is stuck on the lower FiT rate for his E rating or can he wait for the install to be commissioned and apply for the FiT based on him now having Solar PV and a therefore higher EPC rating?

Thanks in advance

Andy

TedM · Jan 27, 2013

On a new install the PV can contribute to the EPC rating. You need to have the new EPC ready to send off with your FiT application to your supplier. But a solid wall property with no loft insulation might struggle to get an E.

Warlord2001c · Jan 27, 2013

Thanks Ted, I'm going to help him get some loft insulation down asap so we can fix that one at least... He has modern double glazing, high efficiency lights throughout and a modern condensing boiler so fingers crossed on the rest.

Earthstore · Jan 27, 2013

Why not get an EPC done now, just ask them not to register it, then you will know which options are the cheapest to do to get your D grade, adding the PV in also.

jason121 · Jan 27, 2013

Just had a EPC done on property thats wants Solar PV.
EPC scored F 38
How do i determine which measure gives the point score?? Looking at the EPC solar only gives 6 points. Customer does not want speed a fortune on insulating solid walls or new boiler.
Me thinks he has to improve insulation if he wants solar
.
Is there a way of round this without spending a fortune ??

whinmoor · Jan 28, 2013

jason121 said:
Just had a EPC done on property thats wants Solar PV.
EPC scored F 38
How do i determine which measure gives the point score?? Looking at the EPC solar only gives 6 points. Customer does not want speed a fortune on insulating solid walls or new boiler.
Me thinks he has to improve insulation if he wants solar
.
Is there a way of round this without spending a fortune ??

If he's on mains gas, it's worth finding out how efficient his current boiler is and how much a new A-rated boiler would help.

Ian-LS · Jan 28, 2013

jason121 said:
Just had a EPC done on property thats wants Solar PV.
EPC scored F 38
How do i determine which measure gives the point score?? Looking at the EPC solar only gives 6 points. Customer does not want speed a fortune on insulating solid walls or new boiler.
Me thinks he has to improve insulation if he wants solar
.
Is there a way of round this without spending a fortune ??

If an F rating and he has an old boiler then he will almost certainly need to replace this to get a D rating. Along with a PV system it should get an D/C. Did a site survey for a house built in 1872 the other week, came out as an F rating with our EPC assessor, only way to get a D rating was to replace his 30 year old boiler with a modern condensing boiler. This with Solar PV raised it to a D/C rating

jason121 · Jan 28, 2013

Boiler is oil fired

SRE · Jan 28, 2013

Welcome to my world - most of the houses in our area are like this.

Gavin A · Jan 28, 2013

jason121 said:
Just had a EPC done on property thats wants Solar PV.
EPC scored F 38
How do i determine which measure gives the point score?? Looking at the EPC solar only gives 6 points. Customer does not want speed a fortune on insulating solid walls or new boiler.
Me thinks he has to improve insulation if he wants solar
.
Is there a way of round this without spending a fortune ??

the solar on the EPC as standard is only a 2.5kWp system though.

You need an arrangement with the EPC assessor that they'll work through a range of measures with you on their system without lodging the EPC to work out what the impact of various measures would be on the EPC, and try to come up with a cost effective package of measures that will bring the EPC up to a D with solar installed.

as a starting point, heating controls, thermostatic radiator valves, 100% energy efficient lighting, extra jacket on the hot water cylinder... are all worth somewhere around 1-3 points each depending how bad it was to start with, and all relatively low cost, plus solar PV can be significantly more than 6 points if it's 4kW south facing.

38 is right at the top of the F band, and we've definitely been able to bring properties up from that level to a D before now with a mix of those relatively low cost measures, the beauty of which is that all those measures should payback faster than solar PV itself especially on oil, so while you might be adding £500-1000 to the cost, the payback is improving.

doesn't always work out mind, particularly if they've got most of that lot done already.

telectrix · Jan 28, 2013

Warlord2001c said:
Hi Everyone,

First post!!! Having my install in the next few weeks but Father in law also interested however his property significantly older (1960's Semi, solid walls, little to no loft insulation).

Long story short we reckon he could be an E rating now and a D once he has Solar PV so does that mean he is stuck on the lower FiT rate for his E rating or can he wait for the install to be commissioned and apply for the FiT based on him now having Solar PV and a therefore higher EPC rating?

Thanks in advance

Andy