Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) and Display Energy Certificates (DECs)

Energy Performance Certificates and Display Energy Certificates are a recent innovation – but Calbarrie has been measuring energy performance for many years. We're therefore ideally placed to deliver an unobtrusive, robust and constructive analysis of your building's energy performance.

What is it?

An Energy Performance Certificate records a building’s energy efficiency on a scale of A to G (where A represents the most energy efficient building and G the least). It also measures your building’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

Each rating is based on the current performance of the building and its services (such as heating and lighting), excluding the appliances within it. The certificate also lists the potential rating of the building if all possible energy performance enhancing measures were installed.

Display Energy Certificates are mandatory for all public buildings. These are additional to the EPC and are designed to show the building’s environmental performance data to public users.

Why do I need it?

Greater energy efficiency results in lower fuel bills. An Energy Performance Certificate is accompanied by a report that includes recommendations to improve energy ratings and maximise your potential savings.

We provide two kinds of recommendation: those that could deliver immediate cost-efficiencies; and further improvements that would achieve higher standards but are not necessarily cost-effective. For each level of improvement the level of cost, potential savings per year and the performance rating after improvement are listed.

What is the legal requirement?

The need for an EPC has been brought about by an EU Directive on the energy performance of buildings, 2002/91/EC (EPBD).

Communities and Local Government aims to have DECs on display where required by October 2008.

Who does it apply to?

EPCs:

• Landlords of dwellings and non-dwellings

DECs:

• Any public authority or public institution building visited by members of the public occupying more than 1,000m2 must display an annually-renewed DEC from 1st October 2008. Examples include NHS trust and hospital buildings, local government buildings, schools, leisure centres, libraries, courts and prisons

How does Calbarrie deliver this service?

• All our work complies with Domestic Energy Assessment guidance, using the RDSAP methodology
• Thorough training delivers accurate data and interpretation
• Energy Performance Certificates are filed on the prescribed national database
• We keep the landlord or agent fully informed of progress with the EPC
• Our informed recommendations are specifically designed to deliver improved energy efficiency