New energy certificate to assist property buyers
4th Apr 2012
A new energy certificate launched by the government will help to provide property buyers with clearer information about the home they are buying, its energy usage and the impact the building is having on the environment.
That is the claim made by communities minister Andrew Stunell, as he unveiled the new-look Energy Performance Certificate, which will also include recommendations for improvements and explain whether they can be funded through the Green Deal.
According to the coalition, the package of measures to make energy information on properties easier to understand could help customers save money on their fuel bills.
Mr Stunell revealed that Domestic Energy Assessors, who are responsible for compiling the Energy Performance Certificates, will have had to undergo further training to ensure the documents are produced to a "consistently high standard" and "assured advice" can be given to prospective UK property owners.
The communities minister said the current Energy Performance Certificate has proved useful in putting the efficiency of our homes at the forefront of our minds, but homeowners can often struggle to know how to act on the advice it gives.
"That's why we're giving it a complete redesign, making it clearer and easier to understand and putting the recommendations for improvements into matters of pounds and pence by showing how much consumers could potentially save on their energy bills," he explained.
As the national register of Energy Performance Certificates will also be open to the public, each homeowner will be able to see how their property compares with others and where changes could be made, Mr Stunell added.
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