What is a commercial Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)

These energy certificates must be produced by an accredited commercial energy assessor (CEA). There are two types of energy certificate for commercial buildings:

1) Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) : As of the 1st October 2008 if a commercial building (has a floor area <>2,500m2 and is marketed for sale or let it will require an EPC immediatley. The EPC will tell you how energy efficient the commercial property is on a scale of A-G, with A being the most efficient. The certificate also tells you, on a scale of A-G, about the impact of the home has on the envronment. Better-rated properties should have less impact through carobon dioxide emissions. The EPC will make recommendations about how a commercial property's energy efficiency can be improved, in addition to a potential rating if the recommended work is carried out.
Commercial EPC non-compliance will result in a penalty. The indications are that this may be based on 12.5% of the rateable value of the property in question, with a minimum of £500 and maximum of £5,000. An additional cost will need to be accomodated for a compliant commercial EPC. A commercial EPC is valid for 10 years unless the property is let or sold.

2) Display Energy Certificate (DEC) - This is required for public buildings and those occupied by public authorities which have a total floor area of 1,000m2 (GIA) and provide a public service to a large number of persons and therefore frequently attended by those people (eg hospital, community hall, school, government or local authority building). As of the 1st October 2008 all public buildings will require a DEC.
A DEC shows the energy performance of a building based on actual energy consumption as recorded annually over periods up to the last three years. The format of the DEC is likely to be A3 in size. The Operational Rating is a numerical indicator of the actual annual carbon dioxide emissions from the building. This Rating is shown on a scale from A to G, where A is the lowest (best) and G is the highest (worst). Property managers affected by this law will need to have annual energy meter readings and are advised to start collecting meter readings now to ensure they have sufficient data ready for the 1st October 2008 (date at which DEC's will need to be displayed).
The Advisory Report will contain recommendations for improving the energy performance of the building. A DEC is valid for 12 months and needs to be updated annually. The accompanying Advisory Report is valid for 7 years.
The penalty is £500 for failing to display a DEC at all times in a prominent place clearly visible to the public and £1,000 for failing to have possession of a valid advisory report. In addition to these penalties, it is still necessary to commission the documents. The DEC is valid for 1 year.
[Both the above types of certificates must be produced by an accredited energy assessor]
In addition new government regulations also require that all air conditioning systems above 250 kW are inspected by January 2009. Those over 12kW must be inspected by 4 January 2011. This work must be carried out by an accredited air-conditioning inspector.

For more information visit www.syntegra-epc.co.uk