Estate agents must include Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) with their property particulars from 1st June 2007.

The Government says that this will give consumers better access to information, helping them make new green choices by comparing energy costs between homes.

EPCs, energy ratings for homes, will give consumers for the first time information about the energy efficiency of properties, and practical steps to reduce carbon emissions and save on energy bills. The introduction of the EPCs has been given added urgency following the recent publication of the Stern report into climate change.

Ministers are also in discussion with the financial services industry about providing green mortgages which fund the improvements suggested in EPCs, as well as exploring options for linking EPCs to incentives to encourage energy efficiency such as the council tax rebates some local authorities are offering in conjunction with energy suppliers.

Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly said: “This is an important opportunity to improve the buying and selling process for consumers. We want to promote a greener housing market for consumers and Energy Performance Certificates can play a key part in this. By providing more information on the energy efficiency of homes, we can help consumers make more informed choices about the homes they buy and their impact on climate change.”

Housing Minister Yvette Cooper said: “Most people have no idea about things like the lagging in the loft when they buy a new home. But this will tell people how they can save money on their fuel bills and cut their carbon emissions at the same time. The trials have also shown we need to tackle the unfair postcode lottery in searches which can cause homebuyers all kinds of costs and delays.”

Domestic Energy Assessment

The NAEA, as an approved Awarding Body, is offering a QCA accredited qualification in Domestic Energy Assessment (DEA).

This straightforward route to the DEA qualification comprises two 40 minute, multiple-choice examinations and production of 5 Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs). Examination costs will be £450 per candidate. Total costs including training should be approximately £2,000 – discounts on training for NAEA members.

NAEA LEVEL 3 AWARD IN DOMESTIC ENERGY ASSESMENT

The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) provides information on the energy efficiency, heating costs and carbon emissions of the property. All EPCs will be produced by accredited (licensed) Domestic Energy Assessors (DEA), and in order to join an accreditation scheme a candidate must first gain an approved qualification in Domestic Energy Assessment.

The qualification

The NAEA Level 3 Award in Domestic Energy Assessment is a nationally recognised qualification awarded by the Examinations Board of the National Association of Estate Agents. This qualification is recognised as one which allow the holder to apply for certification as a Domestic Energy Assessor (please see below for information on applying for accreditation).

The NAEA Award in Domestic Energy Assessment is a Level 3 qualification within the National Qualifications Framework. This means it is broadly equivalent to A-Level standard. It is open to anyone to take, regardless of their past experience or age. You do not need any previous qualifications; just a good basic standard of English and numeracy. All parts of the examinations required to gain this qualification will be assessed in English.

The qualification structure and marking

The qualification syllabus is divided into three Units:

Unit 1 – Legislation and Practice relating to the Provision of the Energy Performance Certificate
Unit 2 - Factors affecting production of the Energy Performance Certificate
Unit 3 – Practical Assessment – production of Energy Performance

Certificates Units 1 and 2 are assessed by examination. There are 35 multiple choice questions per Unit and candidates have 40 minutes per Unit in which to answer them. The pass mark is 80%. All candidates must answer all of the five mandatory questions in Unit 1 correctly; candidates not achieving 100% on section 1A will be deemed to have failed Unit 1 regardless of their mark on section 1B and will be required to re-sit all of Unit 1 again.

Units can be taken separately or both at once. Unit 3 involves the production of five Energy Performance Certificates with supporting site notes and photographs/ sketches where appropriate. Two of these EPCs will be produced from information allocated to you. The remaining three must be carried out on actual domestic properties of your own choice, but those selected must include a flat/apartment and two houses of differing age and style.

Instructions on the EPCs and supporting information which must be submitted will be provided once you are ready to start Unit 3. Assessment and marking of the EPCs will be carried out by Elmhurst Energy Systems Ltd under the direction and verification of the NAEA Examinations Board.

All three Units must be completed and passed within six months of the date of initial registration with the NAEA; you are therefore advised to enrol for training before registering for the qualification.

How do I take the examinations?

The examinations for Units 1 and 2 must be taken via e-assessment (online) at a number of centres. Centre and enrolment information is available at www.naea. co.uk/qualifications. Examination fees are payable via debit or credit card when you book your test sitting. We regret that cheque payments cannot be accepted. You must enrol with Elmhurst Energy Systems Ltd for assessment of Unit 3, and their contact details are given below.

Confirmation of results

You will be notified of the results of each Unit by post. If you have passed you will receive a certificate confirming your success. The results for Units 1 and 2 will show the mark achieved and for Unit 3 will simply state Pass/ Fail. If you fail either or both Unit 1 or 2 you may retake as soon as you wish. If you have failed Unit 3 you are required to submit five new EPCs following the guidelines above.

Training for the qualification

There are a number of organisations providing training leading to this qualification, through either classroom or distance learning or a mixture of both. Details of some of these and their contact information are given below. If you are already experienced in the production of EPCs then you may require less training and you should take advice from training organisations.

How long will it take?

This really depends on your commitments, how you undertake the necessary study and training, and if you have previous knowledge and/or experience in energy assessment or building construction. However, you should be able to complete the study and qualification within 6-8 weeks depending on the availability of training and examination sittings. You have 6 months from the date of registration with the NAEA to complete the whole qualification, including any re-sits you may need to take. If you do not pass all three Units within this time, you will have to begin again. You do not have to be employed within these areas or have any previous experience in order to start your study or take the qualification.

As a general guide, we estimate that those who are new to the profession will require a maximum of 200 hours of study/training/background reading. Those with experience may well require substantially less.

What if I am already experienced in energy assessment or building construction?

In the first instance you should contact a training provider to discuss your training needs. Those who have already undertaken study, have experience in or are recently accredited to RdSAP 2005 standards may require little or no training, and may also be able to use recent EPCs as part of the submission for Unit 3.

There are no exemptions from the NAEA examinations or assessment of EPCs.

How much will it cost?

This will vary depending on where you access your training and how much training you need. Training providers will be able to advise on their costs; contact details of training providers are given below.

Examination fees will be payable to the NAEA. Registration and certification fees, which must be paid before you sit any Units of the qualification, are £340. You will then need to pay examination fees to sit Units 1 and 2 when you enrol on-line for these – if you sit both Units together the cost will be £110; and £75 to sit one Unit only. These fees also apply to any re-sits needed. Registration, certification and examination fees are non-refundable.

Further studies

If you wish to progress your studies you may wish to consider moving on to the Diploma in Home Inspection or to a foundation degree or HND in a relevant discipline such as building construction or surveying.

Candidates with special needs

Candidates with disabilities are encouraged to read the NAEA Disability Policy and to contact the qualifications section at the NAEA to discuss what adjustments might be made to enable them to take the qualification. The Disability Policy can be found on the NAEA website.

Certification schemes

After gaining the qualification you must join an accreditation scheme in order to become a certificated, accredited DEA. There are various mandatory requirements for certification and you may wish to contact the various schemes for further information about these requirements and the associated costs.

The NAEA Examinations Board is an independent Awarding Body, recognised by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. This means that we have to follow strict guidelines and maintain quality standards in the provision of all our qualifications.

Members can download the following documents from the NAEA website:
Domestic Energy Assessment Exam Regulations
Domestic Energy Assessment Registration Form
Domestic Energy Assessment Syllabus

Training schemes include:

Elmhurst Energy Systems Ltd www.elmhurstenergy.co.uk
Bluebox Partners www.blueboxpartners.com
Energy-assessors.com. www.energy-assessors.com
Energy Inspectors Direct: www.energyinspectors.direct.com
ABBE: www.abbeqa.co.uk Further information

Further information on Home Information Packs, the Energy Performance Certificate and certification schemes can be found at: www.communities.gov.uk and www.homeinformationpacks.gov.uk