Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) measure a building’s efficiency based on roof and wall insulation, and the efficiency of services such as heating, lighting, or ventilation. All commercial buildings require an EPC when they are constructed, sold, or let, and they are valid for ten years.
Here’s The Plan work with accredited assessors to provide EPCs to our clients. Identifying the energy efficiency of a building can be very beneficial, as higher ratings translate into reduced energy use, meaning lower carbon emissions and energy costs!
The Regulations
From October 2008 a commercial EPC is required for a commercial building when it is constructed, sold or let. This must be made available to the prospective purchaser or tenant at the point of marketing the building. From 9th January 2013 any non residential building that has an existing EPC must display it as well. An EPC can only be issued by an accredited assessor and it must be registered on the national database administered by Landmark plc.
From January 9th 2013 EPCs are to be displayed in commercial premises larger than 500m² that are frequently visited by the public, and where one has previously been produced for the sale, construction or renting out of the building
The EPC looks broadly similar to the energy labels now provided with vehicles and many household appliances. Its purpose is to indicate how energy efficient a building is. The certificate will provide an energy rating of the building from A to G, where A is very efficient and G is the least efficient. The better the rating, the more energy-efficient the building is, and the lower the fuel bills are likely to be. The energy performance of the building is shown as a Carbon Dioxide (CO2) based index.
Each energy rating is based on the characteristics of the building itself and its services (such as heating and lighting). Hence this type of rating is known as an asset rating.
The asset ratings will reflect considerations including the age and condition of the building. It is accompanied by a recommendation report, which provides recommendations on using the building more effectively, cost effective improvements to the building and other more expensive improvements which could enhance the building's energy performance.
What is involved in producing an Energy Performance Certificate
It is essential that you obtain an accurate energy rating when you next require a commercial EPC! The Certificate and Advisory Report is valid for the next 10 years, so why settle for an "F" or "G" rating when by using a Non Domestic Energy Assessor (NDEA) that puts the time and effort in to establishing the correct information a "D" rating may be possible? The accredited Non Domestic Energy Assessor has a checklist of information that they need to obtain in order to provide the software with the data that it uses to calculate your energy rating (A to G) for a commercial EPC.
Non Domestic Energy Assessors will produce different energy ratings for the same building depending on the accuracy of the information that they gather. If the NDEA is unable to obtain the relevant information the software programme has default settings that the NDEA can use. The more default responses your NDEA inputs in to the software the worse your overall building rating will be.
Commercial EPCs may in future be used as a method of calculating council tax liability for an occupier of commercial premises. Organisations who are affected by the Carbon Reduction Commitment are unlikely to want to rent or lease commercial premises that have a low EPC rating (D or below) as this will affect the amount of carbon allowances that they have to buy each year and ultimately their position in the league table.
