Simply the recommendations are based on the data ascertained about the property during the on site assessment and the results of the Non domestic EPC Calculation. The final ‘current’ rating column is the efficiency of the property at the moment. The ‘potential’ column is where the building could be if the recommendations were effectively implemented.

Recommendations are focused on what is pertinent to the building, for example, if the building has energy saving lighting this will not be in the list.

The evaluation identifies what steps have been taken to and what could potentially be made to that building from within a list of accepted green energy efficiency measures that are available to the public and private sector.
The EPC recommendations are presented under three sub headings. These are:
• Lower Cost
• Higher Cost

These are measures which would cost less than £500.00 to implement in the building. These measures are considered low cost and accessible to all; forming the basis of the potential column. If there is a difference on an EPC rating graph between the current and potential column there are more than likely to be low cost measures that have not been implemented.

Lower cost measures tend to include low energy lighting (CFL, T5), cavity wall insulation and loft insulation. It should be noticed that many of the lowest cost measures are actually the most efficient and beneficial for the property.

These are the recommendations that are thought to be over £500.00 and increasingly energy efficient. These measures do not form part of the ‘potential column’ in the EPC rating graph, but if these ideas are implemented then the current rating of the building will improve in line with the efficiency increase for the property. These measures are actions such as boiler changes or upgrades to boiler controls.

These recommendations are the actions which tend to be expensive and have a much lengthier payback period. They will increase your energy efficiency and help to cut the bills, however they are more expensive to implement and may require additional planning permission or works to install. They are not always options that are open to everyone. Once again these measures don’t form part of the potential column in a ratings graph, but if they are present or implemented then it will improve the overall rating of the building.
The Energy Performance Certificate Recommendations section will also give an indication as to how much each step could save that property on an annual basis as well as the change in the ratings graph it could give. This whole section of the EPC gives excellent information on improvements to the property and potential savings that could be made. If you have an EPC on a property make sure that you use the information in it to save you money!