An Energy performance Certificate (EPC) is required by law when a building is constructed, sold or put up for rent.

If you are a homeowner and require an EPC, you need to instruct a Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA) to carry out the assessment and produce the certificate.

All DEAs need to belong to an accreditation scheme as well as having the appropriate qualifications and experience. Such accreditation schemes control the quality of energy assessments and their reporting by ensuring energy assessors are competent and have the appropriate skills to conduct assessments.

All Domestic Energy Assessors engaged by the-energy-portal have such accreditation and will need to consistently show that:

• they have a recognised qualification from an awarding body or approved prior experience and learning equivalent to the National Occupational Standard requirements.
   
• they will maintain appropriate professional indemnity cover.
   
• they update their skills and knowledge regularly.
   
• they take part in the accreditation body's quality assurance procedures.
   
• they abide by the scheme's advice and guidance.

An EPC is valid for ten years. The exception to this is if the EPC is part of a Home Information Pack (HIP). If it is part of a HIP, an EPC must be less than three years old when the building is first put on the market.

Why do I need an EPC?
Although by law you only need an EPC when a building is constructed, sold or put up for rent, even if that is not the case, you can still obtain an EPC for your own purposes and peace of mind.

• You may simply wish to know how energy efficient your home is and following the rating applied, you may like to make improvements suggested by the recommendation report.
   
• You may be interested in the environment and the impact our homes and buildings have on carbon emissions and just be curious about what an EPC may reveal.
   
• Or you may be interested in improvements to the energy efficiency of their home in order to save money on your fuel bills.

In the same way that you consider the energy efficiency of a kitchen appliance before you install it, perhaps you should also consider an EPC from the-energy-portal to apply that same concern to the energy efficiency of your home?

To instruct an EPC from the-energy-portal, please go to the online form.