An energy performance certificate shows the official energy rating of a property. Home owners will only need one when they sell their property.

The certificate provides a rating for the property, showing its energy efficiency and its environmental impact on a scale from A-G (where A is most efficient and G is the least efficient). It also contains recommended ways to improve the property's energy performance.

By 2009, all buildings in the UK that are constructed, sold or rented out will need to have an Energy Performance Certificate.