The EPC Adviser, recently launched by the DCLG shows you what you can do to make your home more energy efficient and calculates how much money and carbon you can save.

By using the EPC Adviser online tool, householders who receive an EPC are now able to explore and evaluate the measures that they are presented with, and understand a range of potential improvement options open to them.

To use it you will need to have a valid RRN–the reference number that appears on each lodged EPC. Please go to the Central Register as normal https://www.epcregister.com/epcadviser.html and click on the section headed ‘EPC Adviser’.

Once you have entered your RRN you will be presented with a single page of options to choose from. This starts with relatively straightforward things such as loft or cavity wall insulation and draught proofing and moves on to more sophisticated changes such as looking at the impact of improving or changing the heating system.

Because the tool uses the data from the EPC, the options it offers take these factors into account. For instance it knows if the person checking already has a condensing boiler and if the home already has a 90% efficient boiler, it won’t suggest installing one. The EPC Adviser tool therefore provides the opportunity to evaluate a whole range of replacement heating systems and compare them with the one currently installed.

Also, if the homeowner wants to explore measures such as renewable technologies (for example installing a ground source heat pump), the EPC Adviser provides indicative costs so to get an idea of payback. 

NES developed the software engine which powers the calculations and we believe that the EPC Adviser will make the information on the EPC far more accessible and useful and will provide the householder with information about how to improve the energy efficiency of their home, reduce carbon emissions and assist them in putting their plans into action.

DOMESTIC NEW REQUIREMENTS

Regulations 2010 on 21 May 2010
NEW REQUIREMENTS

In order to ensure that people selling their homes continue to make an EPC available to prospective buyers, the Government has also laid before Parliament the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 which introduce a number of new requirements including:

a) a new duty on the seller to ensure that an EPC has been commissioned before marketing of the property commences where no such certificate is already available

b) an EPC has been commissioned when a DEA has been instructed to prepare the EPC and the EPC has either been paid for or has given a clear undertaking to pay for it

c) a new duty on the person acting on behalf of the seller to be satisfied that an EPC has been commissioned before commencing marketing

d) a new duty on both the seller and a person acting on their behalf to make reasonable efforts to secure an EPC within 28 days

e) all of the new duties carry fixed penalties where somebody fails in the duty conferred on them by the new regulations

The Green Deal

The Green Deal will enable householders to invest in energy efficiency improvements to their homes, at no upfront cost, that will pay for themselves through savings on their energy bills. The money to pay for the improvements will be borrowed from a Green Deal provider who will arrange for the measures to be installed. It is expected that the repayments plus reduced energy bills will always be lower than energy bills were before installation of the measures

The finance will be tied to the property rather than the householder and repayments will be made via the householder's energy bill. The effect of this will be that where Green Deal finance has been taken out to pay for energy efficiency measures and the householder subsequently moves before the loan is repaid, the new occupant will take over responsibility for the repayments, while still enjoying the benefit of lower fuel bills.

Legislation will be required to establish the overall framework for the Green Deal, including the ability to link Green Deal finance to a property. This means that the Green Deal is not expected to be up and running until about mid-2012.

WINTER ADVICE

It is essential to keep safe and warm in winter and there are some simple things you can do to keep warm and stay healthy.

During the day:

set your thermostat at around 21ºC (70ºF) and heat all the rooms you use in the day

if you can’t heat all your rooms make sure you keep your living room warm throughout the day and heat your bedroom before going to bed

set the timer on your heating to come on before you get up and switch off when you go to bed
in very cold weather, rather than turn the thermostat up, set the heating to come on earlier so you won’t be cold while you wait for your home to heat up.

During the night:

try to keep a temperature of above 18°C (65°F) in your bedroom overnight

if you use a fire or heater in your bedroom during winter, open the window or door a little at night for ventilation

an electric blanket or a hot water bottle will help you keep warm but never use them together as you could electrocute yourself

if you have an electric blanket, check what type it is – some are designed only to warm the bed before you get in and should not to be used throughout the night

if you use an electric blanket make sure it is safe to use by getting it tested every three years.

The Fire Brigade, Trading Standards and Age Concern can test your electric blanket for safety.
The Government offers advice on ‘Keep Warm, Keep Well’ at Keep Warm Keep Well.

Worried about a relative or an elderly neighbour

If you are worried about a relative or an elderly neighbour, contact your local council or ring the Age Concern helpline on 0800 00 99 66.

Check your heaters are safe

Carbon monoxide kills more than 50 people each year in England and Wales. Levels that don’t kill can cause serious harm to health if breathed in over a long time. Carbon monoxide is given off by cooking or heating appliances that are incorrectly installed, poorly maintained or poorly ventilated. You can’t see or smell carbon monoxide, so the best way to protect yourself is to have all gas and fossil fuel cooking and heating appliances, and flues and chimneys, serviced regularly. The servicing (and any installation) should be done by a registered engineer.

The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headaches, feeling tired and sick, and difficulty in thinking clearly. If you suffer from these symptoms and you think they could be caused by carbon monoxide exposure:

stop using ALL your cooking and heating appliances

open the windows in your home

see your doctor at once

call a qualified engineer to check all your cooking and heating appliances

The Energy Saving Trust has advice about insulation and heating and information on how to register for the UK Government's boiler scrappage scheme which offers a £400 cash back voucher when you scrap your G-rated boiler and replace it with an A-rated boiler or renewable heat technology.

Winter Fuel Payments

Every household with a resident aged over 60 will be eligible for extra money in winter to help with fuel bills. Help the Aged has a lot of good information about Cold Weather Payments and Winter Fuel Payments at

Warm Front Grants