Commercial DECs?

An additional requirement of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) is that all buildings over 1000m2 which are occupied by public authorities or by institutions providing public services, and which are frequently visited by the public, will require a Display Energy Certificate (DEC) from 1st October 2008.

DECs show the actual energy usage of a building over a three year period. The building is given an Operational Rating, which is an indication of the amount of energy consumed during the occupation of the building - normally over a 12 month period. This must be displayed within the building in a prominent place, clearly visible to the public at all times.

Many buildings will be affected by the introduction of DECs, including:

• Public Institutions
• Government Buildings
• Local Authority buildings

An Advisory Report will be prepared in addition to the DEC - this will contain recommendations for improving the energy performance of the building and its energy usage. A DEC is valid for 12 months and needs to be updated annually. The Advisory Report which includes recommendations for improvements is valid for 7 years.

Do I Need a Display Energy Certificate for my Building? Only public buildings will be affected by this legislation initially, however the Government has produced a flowchart to assist property asset managers in deciding if their buildings will be affected by the introduction of DECs.

For full information on the EPBD regulations, please download our brochure.