Energy performance certificates have been required on the design of new homes since 1995, when SAP was introduced.​​

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The Energy Performance in Buildings Directive was adopted by the European Union in 2002 and includes a requirement that an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is to be produced whenever a building is constructed, sold or rented by a new tenant.

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The Energy Performance in Buildings Directive was implemented in England and Wales in 2007 through:

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• The Building Regulations for newly constructed buildings
• The Energy Performance of Regulations 2007 for existing buildings

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The Energy Act 2011 came into being on 18th October 2011. This provides the primary legislation required to implement a range of further government initiatives to increase the uptake of energy efficiency measures, including:

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• The Green Deal, which will use EPCs as the basis for identifying the improvement measures that can be supported by loans that can be repaid through electricity bills.
• Provisions to ensure that privately rented properties have an energy efficiency rating of at least band E from 2018
• A new Energy Company Obligation to provide additional support alongside the Green Deal for vulnerable people on low incomes and ‘hard-to-treat’ homes.

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Two further developments also lead to additional situations where EPCs are required:

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• EPCs will support the implementation of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), which is planned to be implemented in October 2012.
• The consultation on revisions to the Feed-in-Tariffs (FIT) for renewable electricity generation that closed on 23 December 2011 confirms views that minimum energy efficiency requirements should be met based on an EPC before applying for Feed-in-Tariffs (FIT).