Glossary

Energy efficiency refers to how well a home can use energy to light, run and heat it.

Retrofit is the process of installing new technologies into a property that weren’t available when that property was first built. This is technology such as: 

• insulation
• energy efficient heating methods
• smart heating controls
• solar panels
• other methods

An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), is a legal document that assesses the energy efficiency of a property and grades it on a scale from A to G. It represents how efficiently energy is used compared to a property’s running costs. An EPC also contains recommendations for how to improve the energy efficiency of the property, in addition to an estimated maximum grade it could achieve.

An EPC is required when a property is listed for sale or rent. When an EPC is created, it is valid for 10 years.

A Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) is a rating system used across the UK to assess the energy efficiency of a home. It’s a score between 1 to 100, where 100 represents a home with a net-zero energy cost to run. When an EPC is created, the grade is assessed based on the SAP score given to the property. They are used to ensure that new homes are being kept to a high standard of energy efficiency.

PAS2035 is a UK framework for retrofitting homes to improve their energy efficiency. It takes a whole-house approach to retrofit projects. PAS2035 procedures ensure that any retrofit work done on a property is to a high standard, while considering how the building interacts with its wider environment.

While following PAS2035 for self-funded retrofit projects is optional, most government-funded retrofit work must be completed to a PAS2035 standard. This includes the: 

• Energy Company Obligation (ECO4)
• Social Housing Fund
• Warm Homes: Local Grant – all grant schemes that are delivered within Sheffield

Grant schemes are projects usually run by the UK government where money is set aside to be used for certain aims or goals. In retrofit terms, these schemes typically come with strict rules that dictate who can claim them and how the money can be spent. This is to ensure that the money is used to support the groups it was intended to target, such as vulnerable members of society.

Common grant schemes you may have heard of are: 

• ECO4
• the Social Housing Fund
• the Boiler Upgrade Scheme
• the Great British Insulation Scheme
• the Warm Homes: Local Grant

Some grant schemes can be applied for as an individual homeowner, such as the Boiler Upgrade Scheme or ECO4, whereas some are bid for by a local government (such as Sheffield City Council). In these cases, delivery is overseen and coordinated by that local government (such as with the Social Housing Fund and the Warm Homes: Local Grant).

If you have more questions, get in touch.