EPC
What are they? Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) are one page documents that show the current rating and the potential rating with respect to the energy efficiency rating of a building. They will provide a rating from A – G with A being the least polluting, and be similar to the style widely used at present to show the energy efficiency of items such as fridges.
The EPC will be contained in an accompanying report and this Energy Report, in addition to giving the property’s energy efficiency rating, will also comment on the property’s environmental impact in terms of carbon dioxide emissions. The report will recommend ways to improve the building’s energy efficiency and give contact details for further advice and information about how to make a home more energy efficient and save fuel costs.
The main focus of the EPC is the amount of CO2 that is estimated to be released from the building. The performance of the building is benchmarked against current building standards and recommended cost effective improvements. The EPC must be fixed to the building and will be valid for a period of up to ten years (subject to not being sold or rented in that time).
The collection of the data from your property is the beginning of the EPC process. Assessors then use the information they have captured and create a model of the property within specialised software packages thereafter the software completes all the calculations and produces the final EPC. The assessor will then review the recommendations provided by the software, combined with knowledge of the property to provide the property owner with a range of cost effective improvement measures. An updated Carbon Emissions Rate accompanies the recommendations to show how the building should perform once the recommendations are implemented.
Why are they required?EPC’s have been introduced to comply with the European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (2002/91/EC). The directive’s aim is to reduce greenhouse gases following the Kyoto Protocol of 1997, and provide consumers with the energy efficiency rating of their property and ultimately lower fuel bills and CO2 emissions. EPC will be produced using Government approved protocol software and can only be undertaken and prepared by approved Energy Assessors. For domestic properties the SAP method is adopted whilst for non-domestic the software adopted is iSBEM.
Who are responsible for obtaining an EPC? Property owners and vendors are responsible for obtaining an EPC. With a few minor exceptions, the requirement for an EPC applies to all buildings when constructed, sold or rented out, including homes, public sector buildings and business premises.
All new constructed buildings have required an EPC since the 1st May 2007.
All commercial buildings for sale or rent required an EPC from the 4th January 2009.
All public buildings required an EPC from the 4th January 2009
All domestic building for rental required an EPC on the occasion of their first letting from the 4th January 2009
All domestic buildings sold on or after the 1st December 2008 required an EPC as part of the new single survey.
The maximum penalty for not holding an EPC is £5,000. For domestic rental properties, the local Trading Standards office has the power to fine the landlord £200 for failure to have a valid EPC. On commercial properties a penalty charge notice of £1,000 may be made by Local Authorities; and they may serve enforcement notices and refer the matter to the Procurator Fiscal which could result in a criminal conviction and fine of up to £5,000 per building. Once fined an EPC is still required.
Who can prepare an Energy Report and EPC?Fully qualified Assessors are the only people that can legally carry out your audit and lodge your EPC under their protocol scheme. We would advise anyone commissioning a commercial EPC to verify the accreditation details of the assessor prior to issuing the formal instruction. There are various protocol schemes currently in use, such as, RICS, CIBSE, BRE etc, these being the professional organisations who have trained their members correctly to enable them to carry these out, monitored by the Scottish Buildings Standards Agency.
We can provide both EPC for both commercial and residential properties