Green energy ratings for homes are “inaccurate” and “misleading”, says a Which? report, as it calls for a major overhaul of the UK’s system of Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs)
The new policy paper from the consumer watchdog says the current system does not provide households with an accurate insight into their home’s energy efficiency performance.
The paper – titled Reforming EPCs to support households in the Energy Transition – highlights that there is a need for more households to move from fossil fuel heating to low carbon alternatives, in light of the fact that home heating accounts for 17% of UK carbon emissions.
“There is now considerable evidence that too many EPCs do not provide an accurate assessment of the energy efficiency of a home, the metrics that are used are confusing for consumers, and there is a need to provide new information that would support consumers in the decisions they need to make,” said Which?.
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It added: “The presentation of EPCs also needs to be improved to make them more accessible and useful to consumers.”
Introduced in 2007, EPCs are certificates designed to ensure UK compliance with European rules to cut the amount of energy used by both commercial and domestic properties.
Which? has now called for a series of demands including that EPCs should include more information to support consumers in the transition from fossil fuel heating to new low carbon heating systems; and that EPCs should have more than one headline or primary metric in order to support consumers’ understanding of energy use.
Last year, it was revealed the government was contemplating overhauling the home energy rating system in a move which would see the long-standing SAP ratings scrapped.
