See an example of the Energy Report.
What information will an Energy Report provide?
For the first time homeowners will be able to see how energy efficient a house is and will be provided with a range of cost-effective measures that could be implemented to improve the energy efficiency of a house. The information will be presented in a format similar to that provided with new white goods such as fridge freezers. The Energy Report also includes information such as current and potential estimated running costs for lighting, heating and hot water and contact details for local energy advice centres. Better informed purchasers are more likely to implement the recommendations, saving money on fuel bills, helping to meet targets on carbon dioxide emissions and helping to address climate change.
How does the approach for Energy Reports in Scotland compare with that in England and Wales?
In England and Wales, sellers commission a Domestic Energy Assessor to inspect the house to get their Energy Performance Certificates and Reports. Later in the transaction process, a surveyor inspects the house to do the valuation and may gather some of the same information that the Domestic Energy Assessor obtained.
In Scotland, sellers will receive an Energy Report along with the Single Survey. It will be prepared by the Chartered Surveyor as part of the survey inspection, who also will be able to provide an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) without further inspection. This will give the seller both the report and the certificate from one inspection of the house, for one fee.
How does the approach for Energy Reports in Scotland relate to the European directive for Energy Performance Certificates?
Article 7 of the European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD 2002/91/EC), requires that when any building is sold, an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) must be made available by the owner to a prospective purchaser. The requirements of the directive will be given effect in domestic law through building standards legislation.
The Energy Report in the Home Report will allow the seller of the house to comply with the Directive. The prescribed information for the Energy Report is sufficient to allow for the production of an EPC, and will be collected by the surveyor commissioned to prepare a Single Survey and Energy Report.
The Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA) has developed a model EPC which will be issued to providers of software for producing EPCs. The surveyor will be able to use the appropriate software package to generate the Energy Report document that includes the Energy Performance Certificate.
Why is the format of the Energy Reports not prescribed in regulations?
Energy Reports have undergone a number of developments since they were first conceived. To allow for improvements to the methodology they use, the report format, and the information they provide, we are not prescribing the format that they must be in. However we are prescribing the core content of what an Energy Report must include. A model Energy Report will be issued to providers of software for producing EPCs.