One simple trick to speed up net zero - add boiler data to the EPC register
After we published our call for an open register of gas boilers earlier this year, I got an intriguing email from an energy expert.
He suggested to me that Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) - the certificates you get whe you sell or rent a house in the UK - in fact, already record data on boilers.
In other words, most of the information we need to create an open register of gas boilers already exists, and is stored by the government.
It just isn’t currently publicly shared on the EPC register.
But it could be! And if it was, it would seriously support the energy transition.
What data is out there?
What data actually is there? This splendid expert told me:
Domestic Energy Assessors will record the heating system when creating an Energy Performance Certificate using the PCDB (basically a big database of heating systems) in the software.
So the boiler type is recorded based on the Product Characteristics Database, which is, indeed, a big database of heating systems, with their type, make and age.
I have verified that the EPC assessors use drop-down lists, so this is most likely structured data (be still my beating heart).
There are around 25 million EPCs in existence. So, there is likely usable data on the type, make and age of the boilers for around 60% of the housing stock in England & Wales, hidden away.
What would it let us do?
EPCs data isn’t perfect. EPCs are only created if a property is sold or rented, so many properties haven’t ever had one. And many EPCs will be old (they’ve been going since 2007). They’re also not annual, like gas safety certificates.
However, the data would still be incredibly useful - and much easier to unlock than a new register of gas safety certificates.
With 60% coverage, there would be enough statistical power to predict the types of properties and areas that are most carbon-producing, and to directly target many of the oldest boilers.
That would (as per our original briefing):
let companies and startups work out what technical solutions to produce, and where to target them
let policymakers and analysts create and experiment with data-driven policy to support net zero
help local authorities target inspections to make sure tenants are safe.
What needs to happen and how hard would it be?
The EPC public data would have to be extended to include this data. This would probably need a consultation.
But it shouldn’t be technically difficult (an excellent data publishing platform already exists). And there shouldn’t be privacy issues - EPCs already include more sensitive data, and have been through a careful data privacy impact assessment.
So, a great way for the new government to light a fire (sorry) under its commitments to unlock data for the public good - and deliver net zero - would be to add boiler data to the public EPC register.
If you know more about the gnarly details, or can help make this happen, please do get in touch!