The government has passed legislation requiring EPCs and DECs for almost all premises so that owners, buyers, tenants and others are provided with information about the energy efficiency of their buildings. EPCs come with a recommendation report including advice on improvements that could be made to reduce energy use and save money. This will normally involve a number of nil cost and low cost suggestions, as well as opportunities for investment for which grants or loans may be available.
The certificates look rather like those that we are used to seeing on white goods, such as fridges and also have an A to G rating scale:
DECs are intended to raise awareness of energy use amongst visitors to public buildings with a "useful" floor area of more than 1000m2. Each certificate must be prominently displayed and accompanied by an advisory report containing recommendations for energy performance improvement.
Both EPCs and DECs can only be produced by an Energy Assessor accredited specifically for this work. It is likely there will not be enough Assessors to meet the demand that these new legal requirements will generate. However, there are financial penalties for non-compliance with this legislation.
Here is the timetable:
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If you would like to know more about EPCs or DECs or would like to see how we could assist you, please email us at solutions@watt-knots.co.uk with your name and 'phone number and we'll be in touch.
