Energy Performance Management

Under the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) Regulations 2007, landlords and property owners in England and Wales will be required to provide an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for all commercial buildings when they are constructed, rented or sold.  The EPC is similar to the labels currently provided with domestic appliances such as washing machines and its purpose is to record how energy efficient a property is as a building.  The prime objective of the EPC is to make the prospective owner or tenant aware of the energy performance of the building they are interested in and thereby inform the decision making process.

Buildings occupied by a public authority or institution providing a public service with a floor area over 1000m sq will be required to produce and display a yearly Display Energy Certificate (DEC).  The DEC shows the actual energy usage of the building and is based on energy bills or actual meter readings.

The schedule for implementation of EPCs for commercial buildings is as follows:

Date                 Requirement

6 April 2008     - EPCs required for the construction, sale or rent of buildings other

                        than dwellings with a floor areas of over 10,000m sq

1 July 2008      - EPCs required for the construction, sale or rent of buildings other

                        than dwellings with a floor areas of over 2,500m sq

1 October 2008 - EPCs required for the construction, sale or rent of all remaining

                         buildings other than dwellings

                      - DECs required for all public buildings over 1000m sq

EPCs must be accompanied by a recommendation report and DECs by an advisory report.  Both reports detail recommended measures to improve the energy performance and management of a building.  The certificates and reports must be produced by energy assessors who are members of an accreditation scheme approved by the Secretary of State.

Trading Standards will enforce the Regulations and non compliance can result in a hefty fine as well as the inability to complete the sale or lease of a building.

Further information about the Regulations can be found under the Planning, building and environment section of the Communities and Local Government website www.communities.gov.uk

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