The government has launched a consultation on updating the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) system.

The EPC system has been criticised for failing to properly recognise the benefits of replacing gas boilers with carbon-free heat pumps.

The government said it wanted EPCs to “provide a more complete representation of building energy performance”, while any changes would take effect in the second half of 2026.

George Webb, chief executive of Liquid Gas UK, said: “Currently EPCs are positioned as a measure of energy efficiency, however because of the disproportionate focus on the cost of the fuel a home uses, in reality they are just a measure of energy cost per square metre.

“This has led to perverse consequences of homeowners using higher polluting fuels, which might be cheaper than lower carbon alternatives and getting a better EPC rating.

It’s proposed that EPCs include separate metrics for energy cost, carbon, energy use, fabric performance, heating system and smart readiness.

Fabric performance refers to a building’s ability to maintain a different temperature via insulation, as well as window quality and the how well constructed a property is.

The EPC system forms part of the Energy Performance of Buildings (EPB) framework.

The consultation comes from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).

Via @PropertyWire