Understand the EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) of Your Home
A, B, C... G? The energy label of your home is not just a letter. It is a key indicator of your comfort and future bills. Learn to read and interpret an EPC.
Recommended Materials
- EPC of your home
- Energy bills
Steps to follow
Step 1
The EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) is the energy identity card of your home. It classifies it from A (very efficient, high-performance new housing) to G (thermal sieve, very energy-intensive). It takes into account 5 consumption items: heating, domestic hot water production, air conditioning, lighting and auxiliaries (VMC, pumps).
Step 2
Look carefully at the two colored labels. The Energy label measures consumption in kWh/m²/year (your potential bill). The Climate label measures greenhouse gas emissions in kg CO2/m²/year (your carbon impact). Warning: since 2021, the final rating of the housing (A, B, C...) is the worst of the two ratings. A well-insulated home but heated with oil (very polluting) will therefore be poorly rated.
Step 3
A housing classified F or G is officially considered an 'energy sieve'. Since 2023, the worst G housings are banned from rental in France, and this calendar will tighten (ban on F in 2028). It is a major negotiation argument for purchase: plan a substantial works envelope.
Step 4
Do not stop at the letter! Read carefully the pages of work recommendations present in the report. They are personalized and indicate priorities to improve the rating: often roof insulation (30% of losses), then walls, then windows, and finally changing the heating system.
Step 5
Understand the difference between 'primary' and 'final' consumption. The EPC displays primary energy consumption. For electricity, there is a conversion coefficient of 2.3 (2.3 kWh must be produced at the power plant for you to consume 1 at home). This artificially penalizes electric heating in the EPC calculation compared to gas or wood.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the EPC reliable ?
Since the reform of July 1, 2021, the EPC has become 'opposable', meaning it has legal value and you can turn against the seller or diagnostician in case of manifest error. The calculation method has been unified (3CL method) to be more reliable and no longer depend on the bills of former occupants (who might never heat).
How to improve my EPC quickly ?
Insulation is always the absolute priority. Insulating lost attics is often the most profitable and cheapest gesture to gain points. Installing a heat pump to replace an oil boiler also makes a spectacular leap in the ranking.
Precautions
- Have the EPC carried out by a certified diagnostician.
- Check the validity date (10 years, but old EPCs have reduced validity periods).
