Energy Performance Certificates

The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) requires that all new homes, and new and existing non-residential buildings over 50m2 have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) when constructed, sold or rented out from October 2008. This is designed to reduce CO2 emissions from all new buildings and to improve the energy efficiency of existing buildings.

The Certificates provides an asset rating which is a measure of the intrinsic energy performance capability of the building.

This will include an overall energy rating expressed on an A to G colour-coded bar-chart scale. Recommendations for cost-effective improvements will also be given and it will remain valid for 10 years, provided there are no changes to layout or construction.

Buildings over 1000m² occupied by public sector organisations will be required to have the slightly different display energy certificates (DEC) to enable the public to interpret easily how well the building performs operationally on an annual basis.

Ratings Impacts and Effects

As the EPC will require a report giving recommendations to improve the energy efficiency and cost effectiveness of each building assessed, it is highly likely to have a noticeable effect on the property market, making more efficient buildings more marketable and potentially reducing the values of the lowest rated (G) buildings.

Information Required and What can be done

Information is needed about the building’s layout, construction details (walls, roofing, windows), M & E installations, lighting, HVAC services to a level exceeding that for due diligence surveys. Most of this information may be available from O&M manuals, maintenance staff, or if necessary from site surveys.