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Energy performance certificates
Published August 2007
Reducing carbon emissions
Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are to be introduced in phases for residential and commercial property commencing from 2007 to January 2011, the Department for Communities and Local Government has announced.
An EPC – an assessment of a building’s energy performance - will soon be required whenever a residential or commercial building or unit is built, sold or let. Each building will be rated from A to G, and recommendations given on how to improve its rating. The aim is to reduce carbon emissions.
For new buildings, the builder or person responsible for construction must obtain an EPC before a completion certificate is issued by the building control inspector. On a sale or letting of property, the vendor or landlord must provide an EPC to prospective buyers or tenants before any contract is entered into. EPCs will have a shelf-life of ten years.
The roll-out of EPCs will be phased as follows:
1 October 2007
- EPCs required on construction of all new dwellings
- EPC required on sale of residential properties built to 2006 standards.
6 April 2008
- EPCs required on sale or letting of non-dwellings with a floor area over 500 square metres
- EPCs required on construction of all non-dwellings.
- Display certificates required for all public buildings that are more than 1,000 square metres
1 October 2008
- EPCs required on the sale or rent of all remaining dwellings.
- EPCs required on the sale or rent of all remaining buildings other than dwellings
- EPC similarities
The government wants EPCs for residential and commercial premises to be as similar as possible, though there will be practical differences.
Limited exemptions
There are a few, limited exemptions, including stand-alone buildings of less than 50 square metres (except for dwellings), temporary buildings with a planned time of use of 2 years or less, buildings with low energy demand, such as barns, and off-plan sales or lettings before the construction of the building has been completed.
Larger public authority or institutional buildings frequently visited by the public will have to obtain and display Energy Certificates, based on actual energy consumption, from 6 April 2008.
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