Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) included as part of Home Information Packs (Hips) will help to make home design greener, according to a carbon-cutting advisory site.DownwithCO2.co.uk said that people are now taking the energy rating into account when choosing a property, meaning that DIY enthusiasts and all those embarking on home improvement are now likely to bear in mind the selling perks of greener design.Hips were recently extended to cover all houses with at least three bedrooms, making home-owners aware that ratings and advice on heating, lighting, water bills and other areas would be publicised to buyers, leading many to sharpen up green credentials of their kitchen or bedroom.Sam Turnbull, co-founder of DownwithCO2.co.uk, said that the value of Hips and EPCs was soon to be seen If we have another significant increase in gas prices or something like that, energy efficiency could become a differentiator between two or three similar properties.People will look at which will cost the most to run, which has the most efficient boiler and which is best insulated, he added, indicating that making environmentally-friendly improvements before sale is a good step.In a recent report, the Communities and Local Government department revealed that most four-bedroom houses currently received a poor E-grade rating when Hips and EPCs were issues, leaving plenty of room for improvement.