Commercial Properties
Why Energy Performance Certificates are required
All buildings that are not dwellings require an Energy Performance Certificate when they are built, sold or let. An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is intended to inform potential buyers or tenants about the energy performance of a building, so they can consider energy efficiency as part of their investment or business decision to buy or occupy that building. An EPC will provide an energy rating for a building which is based on the performance potential of the building itself (the fabric) and its services (such as heating, ventilation and lighting). The energy rating given on the certificate reflects the intrinsic energy performance standard of the building relative to a benchmark which can then be used to make comparisons with comparable properties. It is accompanied by a recommendation report, which provides recommendations on how the energy performance of the building could be enhanced, together with an indication of the payback period.
EPC’s are not required for:
- places of worship
- temporary buildings with a planned time of use less than two years
- stand alone buildings with a total useful floor area of less than 50m2 that are not dwellings
- industrial sites, workshops and non-residential agricultural buildings with low energy demand
EPC’s are not required on sale or rent for buildings due to be demolished. The seller or landlord should be able to demonstrate that:
- the building is to be sold or let with vacant possession; and
- the building is suitable for demolition and the resulting site is suitable for redevelopment; and
- they believe, on reasonable grounds, that a prospective buyer or tenant intends to demolish the building (e.g. on evidence of an application for planning permission).
How long is an Energy Performance Certificate valid?
EPCs for the sale or letting of buildings other than dwellings will be valid for 10 years.
What information will the Energy Assessor require to generate the Commercial EPC?
The following information will be required during the visit:
- Energy usage data (bills and breakdowns, metering and sub meters)
- Site information (plans of the building)
- Plant records and drawings (operations and maintenance manuals)
- Dates of building construction changes and U values of construction materials/composite assemblies
For more modern buildings with complex ventilations systems the following information will also be required:
- Fan efficiencies
- Chiller performance
- Lighting performance
- Air pressure performance of the entire building
- Air pressure performance of the air conditioning ductwork
The more information available to the Energy Assessor during the inspection, the less time he will have to spend gathering data. This will reduce the cost of the EPC. Where this information is not available, or cannot be obtained, the Assessor will be forced to enter default values in the software for generating the EPC. This will result in a lower Energy Performance Asset Rating.
