Full EPC Level D Need for Solar Panels Tariff Going Forward

Starting 1 April, homeowners who wish to take advantage of the FiTS will have to ensure that their homes have an EPC rating of level D or better. The solar panels can contribute to the rating, however. If you intend to profit from the FiTS with a solar PV system, you may need to make other changes to bring your home’s energy efficiency rating up to level.

While the new requirement may sound scary, achieving a level D rating may not take much in the way of changes and investment. In fact, the government estimates that about 51 percent of UK homes already hold an EPC D rating without taking any measures. In addition, the solar panels themselves can make a significant impact on the EPC rating.

If your property is not up to the required rating, there are a number of things you can do to improve your level. If you are close to a level D, in fact, installing solar panels may put you over the top and qualify you. According to DECC, if you intend the solar PV system be counted toward your rating, you’ll need to install the solar panels and then have an EPC survey done.

One value of having an EPC evaluation done before installing solar panels is the list of recommended improvements supplied as part of your EPC. Those recommendations are tailored to your home and area and are the best measure for deciding which improvements you can make to increase your EPC rating. The recommendations are broken down by cost into those that cost less than £500 and those that cost more than £500. Some of the lower cost improvements will set you back as little as £15.

Low Cost Efficiency Improvements Can Help Qualify for Solar Panels Tariff

If you want to improve your chances for that all-important rating, these measures can improve your efficiency rating.

Replace all of your traditional light bulbs with energy efficient lighting choices. This can cost as little as £11 and yield considerable savings.

Use a programmable thermostat to control energy use for heating and cooling your home.

Insulate water and heating pipes to reduce heat loss and save energy used to heat water.

Install cavity wall insulation to reduce heat transfer through the walls of your home.

Protect against draughts with weather stripping and caulking to reduce energy used for heating. This may be the most overlooked and cheapest way to improve the energy efficiency in your home.

As noted, installing solar panels is a high value efficiency improvement and may be enough on its own to boost your EPC rating into the range needed to participate in the FiTS. If you have any doubts about your home’s energy efficiency, have an assessment conducted by a qualified assessor.