The body representing assessors who perform power efficiency certificates testing has challenged a number of the findings in a report led by Atom Bank on the actual scale of carbon emissions.
Released immediately, the research by Atom along with Experian and the University of Durham, concluded that UK banks could possibly be over-estimating the carbon emissions from properties on their mortgage books by as a lot as 50%.
It advised that this was because of their reliance on EPC assumptions to calculate emissions, relatively than meter readings.
The analysis additionally discovered that there was not a big distinction in emissions between properties with one of the best and worst EPC scores.
But the The Property Energy Professionals Association, which represents the power assessors who give properties their EPC scores, has warned towards throwing out the scheme.
It has additionally pointed to the downsides of the research’s deal with meter readings instead manner of measuring emissions.
PEPA chair Andrew Parkin says: “EPCs are based mostly on standardised assumptions and use carbon depth information accessible on the time of evaluation.
“As the UK’s power combine evolves—significantly with the decarbonisation of electrical energy—the carbon components utilized in EPC calculations can change into outdated.
“The EPC Reform Consultation is inspecting whether or not we have to scale back the 10-year validity interval of EPCs and this analysis means that they need to be considerably diminished.”
PEPA is in help of decreasing it to 3 or 5 years.
Parkin additionally factors out that occupancy ranges and behavior of house homeowners should not captured in EPCs.
He says: “It is essential to recognise that EPCs don’t measure precise power consumption.
“They estimate the power required to keep up an affordable stage of consolation in a property, assuming customary occupancy and utilization patterns.
“Comparing EPC estimates with precise meter readings conflates two basically completely different metrics.
“Actual utilization is influenced by occupant behaviour, affordability and way of life selections—none of which EPCs are designed to seize.”
Parkin says the statement that properties throughout EPC bands A to G could use related quantities of power is “intriguing however should be interpreted with warning”.
Financial restrictions may imply that these in lower-rated properties, significantly these housing households in gasoline poverty, use much less power.
He says: “These households could under-heat their properties, resulting in decrease precise consumption however poorer well being and wellbeing outcomes.
“EPCs estimate what power ought to be used to realize consolation—not what is definitely spent.”
Parkin argues that policymakers and stakeholders mustn’t focus solely on precise power use within the drive in direction of internet zero.
He says: “EPCs play a significant function in figuring out the place enhancements could be made to scale back power demand and enhance constructing efficiency.”
