How to improve a commercial EPC rating before you spend on upgrades
The best way to improve a commercial EPC rating is to understand what is driving the existing score, then assess suitable improvements before commissioning work. Switching from gas to an efficient electric heat pump can make a substantial difference, alongside options such as lighting, insulation and controls.
For landlords and managing agents, that means starting with a clear plan. Replacing equipment without checking its likely effect can leave you with a substantial bill and a smaller improvement than expected.
Start with an accurate assessment
Review the existing EPC, its numerical score and its recommendation report. The band alone does not show how close a property is to the next rating, and an older assessment may not reflect subsequent changes to the building or its services.
Before the survey, gather any available plans, insulation specifications, lighting schedules and heating or cooling equipment details. Photographs taken during refurbishment can also help establish what has been installed.
Good evidence allows the assessor to represent the building accurately. It does not guarantee a higher rating: information must relate to the property and meet the assessment requirements.
Switching from gas to electric heating can dramatically improve the EPC rating
Changing from gas heating to electric heating can dramatically improve a commercial EPC rating, particularly when the replacement is an efficient air source heat pump. For many offices, shops and similar premises, this can include an air-to-air heat pump: a reversible air conditioning system that provides heating as well as cooling.
Commercial EPCs assess modelled carbon emissions. The combination of efficient heat pump technology and lower carbon electricity can substantially reduce those emissions compared with gas heating. The effect on the final rating depends on the building, the existing system and the equipment proposed.
This also aligns with the government's direction towards lower carbon heating. Heat pumps and the electrification of heat are central to that transition, including in commercial and public sector buildings.
A heat pump uses electricity to move heat and can deliver several units of heat for each unit of electricity consumed. Direct electric panel and radiant heaters work differently, so their effect on the EPC and running costs should be assessed separately.
Which other improvements should you consider?
Lighting and lighting controls
Replacing older lighting with efficient LED fittings is one option to assess. Occupancy detection and daylight controls may also be relevant where appropriate. The effect depends on the existing installation, the areas served and the lighting specification, so an LED upgrade should not be assumed to deliver a particular EPC band.
Roof, wall and other insulation
Insulation deserves attention where heat loss through the building fabric is significant. If roof works or refurbishment are already planned, assess the insulation options before the specification is finalised. Ask for details of the proposed materials, thicknesses and construction, rather than relying on a general description such as “insulated roof”.
Heating and cooling controls
Review the efficiency, coverage and controls of the installed systems together. Where a building has both boiler heating and reversible air conditioning, assess how the systems interact and whether they are serving the same spaces. Suitable zoning and controls can help avoid heating and cooling operating against each other.
Before removing radiators or relying on air conditioning for heating, a competent building services professional should confirm heating capacity, controls and comfort requirements. An EPC simulation does not provide a heating system design.
Solar panels
Solar photovoltaic panels can be included in the options assessment where suitable. Their potential contribution should be considered alongside roof condition, available space and the electricity supplies serving the assessed premises. The EPC assessment needs evidence of the system and how it relates to the building.
Compare individual measures and combinations
At NRG Assessments, we can use building energy modelling to compare proposed improvements with an assessed baseline. Testing individual measures helps identify which changes influence the rating. Testing combinations then shows how a practical package could perform.
For example, a review might compare lighting improvements, roof insulation and a heating upgrade separately before assessing them together. The results should show the predicted score and band, the assumptions used and the specification needed to achieve the modelled outcome.
Use those results alongside contractor quotations, access requirements, disruption and planned maintenance. Measures interact, so their individual EPC improvements cannot simply be added together. A modelled rating also remains subject to the work actually installed and the evidence available for the final assessment.
Will a better EPC rating reduce energy bills?
A better rating does not automatically mean lower bills. A commercial EPC is based on modelled carbon emissions under standard conditions. Actual costs also depend on how the building is used, operating hours, controls and energy tariffs.
If a proposal changes the heating fuel, assess likely running costs separately. This helps distinguish an improvement to the EPC from the financial outcome for the occupier.
What about the current MEES requirements?
As at 15 October 2026, the minimum remains EPC E for privately rented non-domestic properties within the scope of the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards in England and Wales, unless a valid exemption is registered. This applies to continuing lettings as well as new tenancies.
For the latest position on proposed higher standards, read our commercial MEES update. A longer term improvement plan should reflect the property's circumstances and the rules that apply to it.
Plan your commercial EPC improvements with NRG
NRG Assessments provides commercial EPCs and MEES improvement assessments across Birmingham, the West Midlands, Staffordshire and Derbyshire. We also cover larger projects and portfolios further afield.
If you are planning a letting, refurbishment or heating replacement, send us the property address, your current EPC if available and a brief description of the proposed work. We can advise on the assessment needed to explore your options.
Contact NRG Assessments or call 0800 233 5669 to discuss your commercial property.
