Energy Performance of Buildings Directive

1. Energy Performance of Buildings Directive Advice and consultancy services to help meet legislative requirements • Low Energy Consultancy can help • LEC Ltd can assist all businesses and organisations to; • identify energy saving • opportunities and reduce energy • costs, • comply with legislation and avoid • fines, • measure and manage your carbon • footprint, • benchmark your building’s energy • performance, • demonstrate a return on your • investment.

2. Energy Performance of Buildings Directive The EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive was introduced in January 2006. This legislation affects the UK commercial property market , all businesses and public sector organisations. Advice and consultancy services to help meet legislative requirements Buildings put to the test The UK Environment Agency estimates that buildings are responsible for almost 50% of the UK’s energy consumption and carbon emission, with commercial premises accounting for 20% of that total. To help tackle the increasing concern over climate change, the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) was published in January 2003 and the associated legislation came into force three years later. The EPBD has far reaching implications for the owners, operators and developers of all buildings in Europe (both domestic and non-domestic). The UK government hopes it will play a vital role in delivering the step-change needed to improve buildings-related energy efficiency and enable the UK to meet emissions targets. The key provisions of the directive are; • minimum requirements for • energy performance of all • buildings, • minimum requirements for • the energy performance of • large existing buildings, • subject to major renovation • energy certification of all • buildings, • public buildings to • prominently display the • energy certificates, • the regular, mandatory • inspection of boilers and • air-conditioning systems in • buildings. • energy certification for all • holiday lets. • There are two types of energy certification; Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) and Display Energy Certificates (DEC). All properties must have an EPC when they are constructed, leased or sold. • In addition to an EPC, all buildings with useful floor space of more than 500m² that are occupied or part occupied by public services to a large number of people must also display a DEC. • The certificate records how energy efficient a building is by rating it from ‘A’ (most efficient) to ‘G’ (least efficient). They are accompanied by an advisory report that lists cost-effective recommendations for improvements, the indicative payback period and the carbon impact of making the improvements. Once completed, an EPC can last 10 years if the building is unmodified. A DEC for buildings with total useful floor areas of more than 1000m² are renewable annually , but the associated advisory report is valid for 7 years. For buildings with a useful floor area of 500m² to 1000m² the DEC and advisory report are both valid for 10 years. It is the responsibility of the landlord or property manager to ensure that an EPC or DEC is made available and failure to do so can result in fines of up to £5,000. As well as cutting your running costs, improving the energy performance of your property may make it easier to sell or rent out. When DECs are used in conjunction with more detailed audit programmes offered by LEC Ltd, they can help to identify more significant cost savings that will benefit your business or organisation. As part of the EPBD legislation, all buildings with installed air-conditioning systems that have an aggregate output of 12kW or above also require a ‘TM44 inspection’. It is the responsibility of the building’s owners and Facilities Managers, to commission this report. Measures to Comply LEC Ltd offer professional services in the areas of resource efficiency auditing and consulting and risk management. LEC can help interpret the TM44 report’s findings and make recommendations about improvements that will transform your working environment. Our services are formed specifically to your unique requirements, ensuring your business or organisation receives the advice, information and tools it needs to lower costs and keep up to date with legislation and achieve a sustainable operation. TO SPEAK TO AN ENERGY ADVISOR 0845 1291188 www.lowenergyconsultancy.co.uk