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Energy performance certificates (EPCs) are one of the key components of the new home information packs (HIPs) which were introduced on 1 August 2007 for people selling property or buying a home with four or more bedrooms and have since been extended to cover homes with three or more bedrooms.

If you want advice on energy performance certificates, cheap mortgages, or fast conveyancing, then you can use the links on this page to find out more details about the various aspects of selling a property or buying a home.

An energy performance certificate provides an energy information report that can help you improve the energy efficiency of your new home and cut your domestic fuel bills as a result. The energy information report might recommend such things as: installing energy saving light bulbs, using jackets to insulate your home's hot water tank, fitting loft insulation, or getting cavity wall insulation.

The energy information report will tell you which measures (such as the above) will cost under £500 and which, such as fitting double glazing or installing a new central heating system, will cost more than £500.

If there are ways that you can improve the energy efficiency of the property simply by changing the way you live in it, then these will also be highlighted on the energy performance certificate. Examples could include lowering the setting on your central heating thermostat, making sure that the thermostat on your hot water tank is not set too high, and making sure that TVs and other appliances are turned off rather than being left on standby.

Reducing your energy consumption at home is one way to keep costs down. Another way is to address the most expensive part of owning a home - your mortgage. Despite recent interest rate rises there are still a number of cheap mortgages available and when buying a home it makes sense to talk to a qualified mortgage broker to see if there is money to be saved by shopping around for the cheapest mortgages.