1. What is a Commercial EPC?
2. Who is responsible for obtaining a Commercial EPC?
3. When is a Commercial EPC not required?
4. Who can produce the Commercial EPC?

5. What is a Display Energy Certificate (DEC)?
6. Who must display a Display Energy Certificate (DEC)?
7. Who can produce the Display Energy Certificate (DEC)?

1. What is a Commercial EPC?

A Commercial EPC looks broadly similar to the energy labels now provided with new vehicles and many household appliances. Its purpose is to indicate how energy efficient a building (and its services) is. The Commercial EPC will provide an energy rating of the building from A to G, where A is very efficient and G is the least efficient. The better the rating, the more energy-efficient the building is and therefore the lower the fuel bills are likely to be. The energy performance of the building is shown as a Carbon Dioxide (CO2) based index.
Each energy rating is based on the characteristics of the building itself and its services (such as heating/cooling and lighting). This type of rating is known as an asset rating.
The asset rating will reflect considerations including the age and condition of the building. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland the EPC is accompanied by a recommendation report that provides recommendations on using the building more effectively, cost effective improvements to the building and other more expensive improvements which could enhance the building's energy performance.
Irrespective of whether the building is in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, all EPCs for non-dwellings are valid for a period of 10 years.

For more information on energy performance for non-dwellings please visit Communities and local government information site. communities.gov.uk

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2. Who is responsible for obtaining a Commercial EPC?
The Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 describe the "relevant person" as:

• In relation to a building which is to be sold, the seller;
• In relation to a building which is to be rented out, the prospective landlord (which may be the owner, the head lessee or a tenant wishing to sub-let);
• In relation to buildings constructed new, the person carrying out the construction work must provide an EPC to the owner no later than 5 days after the construction work has been completed.

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3. When is a Commercial EPC not required?
There are some exceptions, namely non-dwellings where:

• Buildings are to be demolished i.e. where the relevant person can demonstrate that:
• The building is to be sold or rented out with vacant possession; and
• The building is suitable for demolition; and
• The resulting site is suitable for redevelopment; and
• The relevant person believes on reasonable grounds that the prospective buyer or tenant intends to demolish the building.
• Buildings which are used primarily or solely as places of worship.
• Temporary buildings with a planned time of use of two years or less (e.g. site huts).
• Industrial sites, workshops, open-sided multi-storey car parks and non-residential agricultural buildings such as barns with low energy demand.
• Stand-alone buildings with a total useful floor area of less than 50 m2 which are not dwellings.
• Before construction of the building has been completed, including any (off-plan) sales or lettings.

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4. Who can produce the Commercial EPC?
Only accredited Commercial energy assessors will be able to carry out the assessment and production of the Commercial Energy Performance Certificate. Due to the range of commercial buildings, assessors will need to be appropriately qualified to assess buildings based on the buildings complexity and size. Various levels of qualification and accreditation will be offered in order to reflect this.

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5. What is a Display Energy Certificate (DEC)?

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland a Display Energy Certificate (DEC) is a document that shows/includes:

• The operational rating of the building (or part) to which it relates;
• Where an EPC has also been issued, the DEC will show the asset rating of the building or part to which it relates;
• The operational ratings for the building (or part) which were expressed in any Display Energy Certificate(s) displayed by the occupier during the 2 years before the nominated date;
• A reference value such as a current legal standard or benchmark;
• The reference number under which the certificate has been registered;
• The address of the building;
• An estimate of the total useful floor area of the building;
• The name of the energy assessor who issued it;
• The name and address of the energy assessor's employer, or, if he is self-employed the name under which he trades and his address;
• The date on which it was issued;
• The nominated date;
• The name of the approved accreditation scheme of which the energy assessor is a member.

Basically in England, Wales & Northern Ireland a Display Energy Certificate (DEC) shows the actual energy usage of a building, i.e. the Operational Rating. It advises the visiting public about how efficiently a building is being operated. The rating is based on the energy consumption of the building as recorded by electricity, gas and any other relevant utility/fuel meters. The certificate must be clearly displayed at all times and clearly visible to the visiting public. As with an Energy Performance Certificate, a Display Energy Certificate is always accompanied by a recommendation report that lists cost effective measures to improve the energy rating of the building. A Display Energy Certificate is valid for 12 months unless major works are undertaken and the accompanying advisory report is valid for 7 years, thus reducing the cost of obtaining a Display Energy Certificate in years
2 to 7.
For more information on Display Energy Certificates please visit Communities and local government information site. communities.gov.uk - DEC's

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6. Who must display a Display Energy Certificate?

A Display Energy Certificate (as it is known in England, Wales and Northern Ireland) is only required for a building or part of a building with a conditioned (heated and/or cooled) total useful floor area over 1,000m2 that is occupied by a public authority or institution providing a public service to a large number of persons and therefore visited by those persons. Certificates are valid for one year but the accompanying Advisory Report is valid for seven years.
In the longer term, the government has announced its intention to consult on whether this requirement should be extended to include private sector buildings occupied by commercial organisations where large numbers of the public regularly visit the building e.g. retailers. Any such extension would of course be subject to separate legislation.

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7. Who can produce the Display Energy Certificate (DEC)?

Only Display Energy Certificate Assessors will be able to carry out the assessment and production of the Display Energy Certificate. Due to the range of public buildings, assessors will need to be appropriately qualified to assess buildings based on the buildings complexity and size. Various levels of qualification and accreditation will be offered in order to reflect this.

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