Man given wrong energy rating after £60k green upgrades on house – BBC

Report on Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) System Inadequacies and a Case Study on Sustainable Development Goal Alignment

1.0 Introduction

A recent case involving a homeowner in West London highlights significant discrepancies within the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) system, revealing systemic barriers to achieving key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A £60,000 investment in green home upgrades, directly contributing to SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action), resulted in an erroneous and discouraging energy rating. This report examines the case and its broader implications for national sustainability targets, particularly concerning SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

2.0 Case Study: Michael De Podesta

Mr. Michael De Podesta, a chartered physicist, undertook extensive renovations on his 1920s semi-detached house to improve its energy efficiency and align with principles of sustainable living.

2.1 Sustainable Upgrades Implemented

The homeowner’s investment was directed towards technologies that support a transition to clean energy and responsible consumption, in line with SDG 7 and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

• Installation of solar panels for renewable energy generation.
• Upgrading to triple-glazed windows for superior thermal insulation.
• Application of external insulation to the property.
• Installation of an air-source heat pump, replacing traditional heating methods.

2.2 EPC Assessment Failures

Despite the upgrades resulting in annual heating bills of only £160, the official EPC assessment process produced inconsistent and inaccurate results, undermining the homeowner’s efforts.

1. Initial Assessment: Following the first phase of upgrades (solar panels, insulation, triple glazing), the property received a B rating.
2. Second Assessment: After the installation of a heat pump and additional solar panels, a new assessment incorrectly downgraded the property to a C rating.
3. Rectification: The assessing company, Compass Property Projects, admitted the error, refunded the fee, and restored the B rating.
4. Final Assessment: A subsequent independent survey confirmed the property’s high efficiency with an A rating.

This inconsistency demonstrates a critical failure in the measurement and verification infrastructure required to support SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).

3.0 Systemic Issues and Implications for SDGs

The case highlights widespread problems with the EPC methodology that create obstacles to achieving national climate and sustainability objectives.

3.1 Outdated Methodology

The CEO of Elmhurst Energy, a firm that provides software for assessors, stated the EPC methodology is “out of date.” A key flaw is that the rating calculation is based on the price of energy, where electricity is considered more expensive than gas. This penalizes the use of highly efficient, clean-energy technologies like heat pumps, directly contradicting the objectives of SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

3.2 Impact on National Targets

The UK government has mandated that all rented homes must achieve an EPC rating of C or better by 2030, a policy designed to advance SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). However, an unreliable and inaccurate EPC system threatens to:

• Erode public trust and disincentivize homeowners from investing in green technologies.
• Provide flawed data for policymakers, hindering effective climate action.
• Unfairly penalize landlords and homeowners who adopt modern, sustainable energy solutions.

There are widespread calls for the government to overhaul the system following a consultation, to ensure it accurately reflects a property’s energy efficiency and supports, rather than obstructs, progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article highlights issues related to home energy efficiency, renewable energy adoption, and the regulatory frameworks governing them. These topics are directly connected to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy: The central theme of the article is the homeowner’s effort to make his house more energy-efficient and generate his own clean energy. He installed “solar panels” (clean energy) and made upgrades that resulted in his heating bills being only “£160” for the year (affordable energy).
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The article discusses upgrading existing housing stock (a “1920s semi-detached house”) to improve its environmental performance. Making buildings more energy-efficient is a key strategy for creating sustainable and resilient urban environments by reducing their overall energy consumption and carbon footprint.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The “green upgrades” undertaken by the homeowner, such as installing insulation, heat pumps, and solar panels, are direct actions to mitigate climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from a residential property. The article also touches upon the government’s role and policies (the EPC system) in encouraging these climate-friendly actions.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: By investing £60,000 in upgrades to make his home “extraordinarily efficient to run,” the homeowner is actively reducing his consumption of energy. This aligns with the goal of promoting resource and energy efficiency and achieving more sustainable consumption patterns.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the actions and policies described in the article, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
   • Explanation: The homeowner’s installation of “solar panels” directly contributes to this target by increasing the capacity for renewable energy generation at a micro-level.
2. Target 7.3: By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency.
   • Explanation: The article is centered on improving energy efficiency. The homeowner’s actions, including installing “triple glazing, external insulation” and a “heat pump,” are all measures aimed at achieving significant gains in energy efficiency, which is the core of this target.
3. Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums.
   • Explanation: While the context is not a slum, the “upgrade” component of this target is relevant. By making the house highly energy-efficient, the homeowner has made it more affordable to live in, as demonstrated by the drastically reduced heating bills. This contributes to the affordability aspect of housing.
4. Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.
   • Explanation: The article discusses the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) system, which is a national policy designed to measure and encourage energy efficiency in buildings as a climate change mitigation strategy. The calls to “overhaul the system” and the government’s “consultation on the topic” reflect the ongoing process of integrating and improving these climate-related policies. The plan to force landlords to get properties to a “C rating or better by 2030” is another example of such a policy.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions several direct and implied indicators that can be used to measure progress:

• Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ratings: The article repeatedly refers to EPC ratings (A, B, C, G) as a metric for a home’s energy efficiency. This rating system serves as a direct, albeit flawed according to the article, indicator for progress towards energy efficiency improvements (Target 7.3).
• Adoption of renewable energy technology: The mention of “solar panels” is an indicator of the uptake of renewable energy sources at the residential level, which is used to measure progress towards Target 7.2.
• Annual energy costs for heating: The homeowner’s statement that his heating bills “came to £160” for the year is a specific, quantifiable financial indicator. It measures the real-world impact and affordability resulting from energy efficiency upgrades (Targets 7.3 and 11.1).
• Government regulations and standards: The article points to a specific government policy indicator: the plan that “all rented homes would need to have an EPC rating of at least C by 2028 for new tenancies and all tenancies by 2030.” This is a clear, measurable policy action for tracking the integration of climate measures (Target 13.2).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: bbc.com