DECs & EPCs
Display Energy Certificates & Energy Performance CertificatesWhat are Display Energy Certificates (DECs) & Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs)?
Energy certificates provide a rating for the energy performance of a building. There are two types of energy certificate:
- Display Energy Certificates (DECs) provide a rating of the energy performance of public buildings. They are valid for either one year or ten years, depending on the floor area of your building. They rate the building on a scale from ‘A’ to ‘G’, with ‘A’ being the most efficient and ‘G’ being the least. DECs must be accompanied by an Advisory Report listing cost-effective measures to improve the building’s energy rating.
- Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are required for all other properties when they are constructed, sold or let. An EPC provides details of the energy efficiency of the property and how it can be improved. EPC ratings also run from ‘A’ to ‘G’. They give an indication of how costly the building will be to heat and light for anyone wanting to buy or rent it. The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard for commercial buildings requires that no commercial building with a rating below E can be rented without first proving that all reasonable efforts have been made to improve its efficiency above an E rating. This is set to change to band B by 2030, which represents a substantial tightening of energy-efficiency requirements for rented commercial buildings.
Who needs to comply?
- Display Energy Certificates (DECs) are required for buildings frequently visited by the public which are at least partially occupied by a public authority or an institution providing a public service AND with a total useful floor area greater than 250m2.
- Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are required for any type of building when it is constructed, rented or sold. The builder or the person responsible for the construction must obtain the certificate and provide it to the owner once construction is complete.
How do you comply?
For DECs, the building’s operational rating needs to be calculated based on energy consumption, taken from gas, electricity and other meter readings. The public authority or institution providing the public service is responsible for displaying a DEC, and having a valid Advisory Report for each of their buildings affected by the legislation. Only accredited Energy Assessors can produce DECs and Advisory Reports.
To obtain an EPC for any other type of building, you will need to follow standard, approved calculation methods that use standard assumptions about energy usage. This will give you an energy rating, allowing the energy efficiency of your building to be compared with another building of the same type.
How can Equans help?
Equans can take care of all your DEC and EPC obligations, calculate accurate energy ratings for your buildings and provide all necessary documentation.
For DECs, the rating calculation is based on actual energy consumption. Our assessor will collect all necessary data and calculate your energy rating using approved methods. We will simultaneously compile an Advisory Report to meet the requirements of this legislation, identifying energy improvement measures to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions.
For EPCs, our accredited assessor will conduct a site audit to collect the building and system information required to carry out an approved performance assessment. The information gathered on site will be used to carry out a simulation of the building using government-approved energy modelling software. This will determine the building’s operational rating and grade, which are logged on the Government register in order to obtain the EPC.
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