The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and Department for Energy Security and Net Zero have launched a consultation on the reform of the Energy Performance of Buildings (EPB) framework covering consolidating the regulations and updating EPC metrics.

EPCs have been widely criticised for very ‘tick box’ approach and often having a tangential relationship to actual performance. The consultation will cover England and Wales.

While EPCs display various metrics about a building’s energy performance, the headline metric serves as the primary indicator of its overall energy efficiency. For domestic buildings, the Energy Efficiency Rating (EER) is the headline metric, calculated using modelled energy costs per square metre based on standardised heating patterns, temperatures, and fixed fuel price assumptions. For non-domestic certificates, modelled carbon dioxide emissions per square metre form the basis of the Environmental Impact Rating (EIR) headline metric.

DESNZ admits both the current EER and EIR metrics have flaws, for instance, installing a heat pump could reduce the EER due to the higher relative cost of electricity compared to gas, despite heat pumps being an efficient low-carbon heating solution.

The Government there wants EPC metrics to be clearer and more focussed on carbon reduction.

The consultation is scheduled to last for 12 weeks from 4 December 2024 to 26 February 2025.

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