Almshouse Association CEO, Nick Phillips, attends the Heritage Building and Decarbonisation Group workshop at Historic England Head Office.

On Wednesday 1 May 2024, Historic England, the National Trust, the Church Commissioners,  Dutchy of Cornwall, Country Land and Business Association (CLA), the Crown Estate, BRE Group and others all met to consider the impact and implementation of current EPC (Energy Efficiency Certification) process and legislation on the heritage sector.

Jo Lugg, National Trust talking at the workshop

The group have been concerned that the current EPC model is too simplistic in the face of changing technology, listed building status and buildings that function in a variety of ways. The use of a building is important in considering decarbonisation intervention and, in the heritage world, the almshouse is unique in its use so we need to monitor the EPC changes to make sure it works for our members

We are grateful to Keeran Jugdoyal, Head of Net Zero Buildings at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) who presented the latest direction on EPC strategy and took soundings on heritage buildings and how current EPCs could better reflect the reality of listed buildings.

The group were able to raise questions and give feedback into the development process and the direction of the next EPC measures appears to represent a positive direction, better able to balance energy costs, energy efficiency and carbon output. The group will be working with the DLUHC team to make sure they are flexible enough to cope with listed buildings.

Nick Phillips raised the significant concerns of our members, particularly those working with heritage buildings, and requested a simpler, return of investment and impact priority output from the system, as well as clarity and speed with the heritage exemption process.

There are changes to the RDSAP (Reduced data Standard Assessment Procedure) process that should add value to the system with better interpretation of ventilation, value of Photo Voltaics, better impact measures for windows, and solid wall construction, as well as shutters and new insulation material.

The EPC is here to stay but we all need it to produce pragmatic solutions reflecting the nature of the building.

posted 2 May 2024