National Retrofit Hub releases comprehensive report on EPC reform

The National Retrofit Hub (NRH) has published "The Future Of Energy Performance Certificates: A Roadmap for Change," a detailed report calling for critical updates to Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) to support large-scale, high-quality retrofitting across the UK. Released ahead of the government’s anticipated consultation on EPC reform, this report is based on a wide-ranging research effort involving extensive desktop analysis, cross-sector engagement workshops, and insights. It also features an industry-wide survey, conducted in partnership with Futurebuild, gathering input from over 300 professionals across the sector. It presents an eight-stage roadmap designed to address pressing industry needs for improved accuracy, trustworthiness, and relevance in EPCs.

The NRH encourages industry stakeholders to download the report, use its insights to inform feedback on the upcoming consultation, and share it widely to ensure a broad, informed response to this important policy opportunity.

Survey highlights gaps and areas for improvement*

The report uncovers significant challenges within the current EPC system, based on extensive feedback and engagement with the sector:

- 57% of respondents have little to no trust in EPC ratings, with many expressing doubts about their accuracy and usefulness.

- 58% believe EPCs only slightly or moderately encourage home improvements, limiting their role in driving energy efficiency.

- Only 5% support the use of current cost metrics to set Net Zero targets, favouring carbon or energy use intensity metrics instead.

- 87% of respondents agree that EPCs should reflect a building’s impact on occupant health and wellbeing.

- 86% call for incorporating real-world data, and 80% support adding peak energy demand data to aid grid management and planning.

These findings underscore the need for EPCs to evolve into tools that are not only accurate but also actionable and trusted by both consumers and professionals.

Our recommendations: an eight-stage roadmap for reform

Based on these insights, the NRH proposes an eight-stage roadmap to reform EPCs, enabling effective, scalable retrofit across the UK:

1. Set clear targets for EPC improvement and uptake.

2. Improve cost and carbon metrics to support Net Zero goals.

3. Introduce confidence ratings for greater transparency and reliability.

4. Include optional metrics to reflect diverse building needs.

5. Enhance recommendations for meaningful, outcome-focused guidance.

6. Endorse digital building logbooks for ongoing, comprehensive data tracking.

7. Expand 'trigger points' to ensure EPCs are updated at key stages.

8. Launch a national campaign and rebrand EPCs to promote a holistic understanding of building performance.

"To achieve our retrofit ambitions, EPCs must become trusted, effective tools that genuinely support the transition to low-carbon, healthy, resilient homes," says Rachael Owens, NRH Co-Director. "Our roadmap lays out a clear path forward, and we’re calling on policymakers, industry leaders, and financial institutions to work with us to make this happen.

“Effective collaboration in EPC research drives innovation, solves complex challenges, and accelerates progress. By uniting expertise across disciplines, organisations can harness collective intelligence, ensuring projects are not only efficient but transformative. Building a strong network of trusted partnerships fosters knowledge sharing, shaping the future of engineering, procurement, and construction together."

Download the full report

To access the full report, please visit Website. We encourage stakeholders to review the report's insights and findings and use this information to support feedback on the government’s forthcoming consultation on EPCs.