"From the 1st October 2008 all public authorities and institutions providing public services who occupy premises with a gross internal floor area of 1000 m2 or above and which are frequently visited by members of the public will require a Display Energy Certificate and Advisory Report"
The introduction of the Display Energy Certificate and Advisory Report by the Government forms part of The Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificate and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007.
The DEC is designed to show the operational rating of a building which is based on information pertaining to the actual energy usage for that building over the last 12 month period.
The DEC is valid for 1 year and should be at least A3 size. It must be displayed in a prominent location clearly visible to visiting members of the public.
The Advisory Report is a compulsory part of the regulations and is required along with the DEC. The advisory report details recommendations for improving the efficiency of energy use in the building and is valid for 7 years, though this is not required to be displayed.
Display Energy Certificate - Frequently Asked Questions:
What does a display energy certificate show?
A DEC shows the energy performance of a building based on the actual energy usage during the 12 month period prior to the date of the certificate.
Why is there a need for display energy certificates?
The Government introduced DEC’s in order to raise public awareness of the energy use of public buildings. Dec’s provide an energy rating from A to G, where A is the most efficient and G the least based on actual metered energy consumption. The previous 2 years ratings are shown on the DEC enabling people to see whether the energy efficiency of the building has improved or not.
When will a display energy certificate be required?
A DEC for all buildings affected by the Regulations will need to be on show by the 1st October 2008. Those affected buildings are those with a total useful floor area of 1000m2 or more and which are occupied by Local Authorities or institutions providing a public service and which are visited on a regular basis by members of the public.
What information will the assessor need?
The occupier and assessor will need to obtain information concerning the energy use of the building over the last 12 months. In order to do this the assessor will take meter readings at the time of the inspection and calculate the actual usage by reference to the meter readings on the utility bills from the previous year. It will be the occupier or landlord who supplies this historic data. (If the assessor cannot establish that 95% of the energy used has been accounted for then the building would be given a default operational rating of 200 (G))
In addition the assessor will carry out a full inspection of the building noting the type of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in the building together with information pertaining to the buildings construction.
How long are the DEC and advisory report valid for?
The DEC must be renewed every 12 months, though the advisory report is valid for 7 years.
What is the purpose of the advisory report?
The Advisory Report contains a list of recommendations which it is considered would improve the energy efficiency of the building. The recommendations are divided into payback periods:
Short term payback - up to 3 years
Medium term payback - 3 to 7 years
Long term payback - 7 years and over.
The validity of the report is 7 years as this is considered a reasonable period during which the building occupier can act on the recommendations.
Do I have to act on the recommendations?
There is no obligation to act on the recommendations contained in the advisory report, however taking action is likely to improve the energy efficiency of the building, reduce your fuel bills and potentially improve public perception of your building. |
