Surveying
Energy Performance Certificates & Accredited Energy Assessors
From 1 October 2008 a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) will be a legal requirement for all commercial buildings that are in construction or for sale or rent. The EPC tells owners and potential buyers and tenants about the energy efficiency of a building. The only person that is able to produce an EPC is an accredited energy assessor. Accreditation controls the quality of assessments by ensuring energy assessors are competent and have the appropriate skills to conduct assessments.
Responding to new legislation, Pick Everard is adding a new energy assessment capability.
Accredited assessors at Pick Everard are able to produce commercial EPCs as well as Display Energy Certificates (DECs) for use on public buildings. EPCs will be valid for 10 years. Surveyors at Pick Everard are RICS accredited energy assessors for Level 3 & 4 buildings.
Level 3 relates to simple existing buildings with commonly occurring characteristics that can be modelled using the Simplified Building Energy Model (SBEM). Level 4 relates to new and more complex buildings that can be modelled using SBEM. Engineers at Pick Everard are CIBSE accredited energy assessors, providing EPCs for Level 5, the most complex new and existing buildings that will need to be modelled using Dynamic Simulation methods.
Phased introduction
EPCs are being introduced in phases. In England and Wales, they are already required on commercial buildings with a floor area exceeding 2,500sqm but from October, EPCs are required on all commercial buildings. In Northern Ireland the timetable for commercial buildings will be - new build 30 September 2008, sales and rentals by 30 December 2008. In Scotland the timetable for both dwellings and commercial buildings will be - new build May 2007, sales during 2008 and rentals by January 2009. Public authorities and institutions which provide public services, and occupy space within a building exceeding 1,000sqm, must display a valid DEC and have a valid Energy Advisory Report.
