Energy Assessor Ed Trathen is a bit of a bloodhound when it comes to calculating building energy performance – but it obviously pays off.

“I’ve got quite an analytical approach and will work on every detail of a project until I get it absolutely right,”

admits Ed.

“I’m a stickler for detail and have a 100% pass rate on my audits.”

Murton & Co’s most recent recruit, Ed has worked as a SAP Assessor since November 2023 after a 10-year stint as a site-based RdSAP Assessor, when he regularly advised landlords and homeowners on how to improve their properties and raise Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ratings, as well as delivering talks and advice sessions to the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) and local property professionals’ organisations.

Ed now carries out SAP and overheating assessments for new properties, extensions and conversions, and enjoys finding creative solutions when using SAP to help clients realise their ambitions. One client, whose property was in an area of outstanding natural beauty, wanted to boost his EPC rating but didn’t want to put solar PV panels on his roof due to possible planning issues, explains Ed.

“I was able to improve the spec of the build by using improved insulation and other less visible tech, presenting him with a variety of options for making less obtrusive improvements,”

says Ed.

“He decided on an air source heat pump and wastewater heat recovery system that I had suggested. Now his plans have flexibility, and his property has the ability to score an EPC B.”

Not long after he joined Murton & Co, Ed worked with a client who built two identical bungalows on a plot but had been left in the lurch by another Energy Assessor.

SAP calculations are done in two stages – design and as built – the latter, to consider changes in the design since the plans were drawn up, Ed explains.

“In this case the original Assessor hadn’t done the design stage properly and was no longer contactable by the client. The build had been completed, and when I did the as-built calculation, it became apparent that the measurements in the design stage had been imported directly from 3D modelling software without being checked, as there were large areas of walls and roofs that hadn’t been recorded. As a result, the building was failing on the fabric efficiency score.”

Ed took the unusual step of manually calculating kappa values for every floor, wall and ceiling in the property, as well as measuring every window to calculate the frame factor, rather than relying on the default assumptions built into SAP.

“This gave a truer picture of the fabric efficiency of the building, and as a result, the property passed. It meant the client didn’t have to unnecessarily spend extra time and money removing plasterboard and adding more insulation – and he was very happy.”

Based in Redruth, Cornwall, Ed works virtually across all regions and projects due to SAP’s plan-based nature and speaks to clients by phone, video call or email. He regularly meets Director Jonny Murton-Lavelle and the team to discuss projects and appreciates being able to work flexibly around caring for his two children.

Ed enjoys keeping up with the latest developments in the sector and is currently learning Psi calculations which measure heat loss at junctions between different building elements, such as where a wall meets a floor.

The default Psi values in SAP are very much a worst-case scenario and not always accurate when calculating heat loss at common junctions, he explains, while online recognised construction details don’t cover all eventualities.

“Having bespoke Psi calculations gives a truer reflection on heat loss in the property which can save clients a huge amount of money on materials, particularly when the finding is multiplied across a large estate, or even multiple developments.”

He’s interested to see what the new Home Energy Model – set to replace SAP – will bring.

“It will be a much more fabric-based approach rather than simply cost-based which will put more emphasis on the quality of insulation, airtightness, and thermal bridging. As Energy Assessors it will mean we’ll need to provide more accurate energy performance assessments that align with net-zero targets – and I’m up for the challenge.”

Ed also plans to start training as a Commercial Energy Assessor as he’s keen to become more of an all-rounder and understand where the government is going in terms of its overall carbon strategy.

“The commercial sector forms a massive part of these plans, and I want to be involved in that.”

Caroline says they’re delighted to welcome Ed to the team.

“He has already shown himself to be a valuable addition, clearly sharing the company’s core values of reliability, honesty, transparency and thoroughness, and a willingness to go the extra mile when needed,”

she adds. “

Ed is enthusiastic about developing new skills, and we are pleased to support him as he continues to build his knowledge and experience.”