For all properties being built, sold or let, you now need an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) which provides details on the energy performance of the property and shows what can be done to improve this performance.
For the renewable heating sector, an EPC report also forms the basis of determining how much financial support the homeowner could be eligible for under the government’s Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).
Yet in some situations, EPC reports are failing to correctly acknowledge the efficiency of renewable heating and give a negative rating of 1 or 2 stars against the ‘Water Heating’ element, which is simply incorrect for a well-designed and fitted heat pump.
This can send a mixed message and contrasts starkly with the ‘Main Heating’ section, which portrays the correct rating for heat pumps with 4 and 5 stars.
We need to encourage the nation to turn their back on gas and oil and adopt a renewable future.
Dan Hemsworth Pre-sales technical engineer
Easy peasey
That is why a new, simple tool has been designed to make the process easy to use and more precise.
The app is free for installers and simply asks for the Ecodan unit and cylinder that is on the site, with a given flow temperature range.
It will then produce the exact information required and give the correct hot water rating.
All of the information is easily obtainable from the commissioning documents that the homeowner will have been given post their installation.
And all you need to do to obtain the app is email the Ecodan technical team.
Education
Another aspect of the EPC report in relation to heat pumps is education for home buyers who have heat pumps installed (both new build and retrofit).
As we know, understanding renewable technology and how to get the best performance out of it is key to reducing running cost and creating a sustainable way of heating our homes whilst reducing its impact on the environment.
As a rapidly growing industry, the renewable heating sector needs to be able to show how efficient heat pump technology is within the EPC, so that we can encourage house builders to incorporate this into their developments to play their part in achieving the governments “The Clean Growth Strategy” targets.
This aims to decarbonising our Grid and help protect the climate and environment upon which we and future generations depend.
So, we all need to make sure that we can navigate any anomalies in the EPC process to ensure the benefits of heat pumps are calculated correctly and the nation is encouraged to turn their back on gas and oil and adopt a renewable future.
And that is what this app is specifically designed to do.
