EPC Assessors

Maximising potential for non domestic epc register isn't the same as meeting client requirements and expectations.

Frequently Occurring CharacteristicsCommercials need energy-saving measures just like the rest of us, and EPC can help them achieve this. By implementing the right EPC measures, businesses can save up to 40% on their energy bills each month. Optimising the energy efficiency of existing and new buildings and plant is the number one opportunity for cutting energy costs and reducing carbon emissions. Done properly, savings in the order of 20 – 50% can be achieved with commercially attractive paybacks. An EPC gives information on how energy efficient a building is and sets out how this can be improved. It is a legal requirement to provide an EPC when a commercial property over a certain size is sold or leased. An Action Plan (specifying improvement measures) must also accompany the EPC for all properties for sale/lease over 1,000m². An EPC is required in the UK whenever a property is marketed for sale or rent or is newly built. The EPC is valid for 10 years or until a newer EPC is produced for the same property. It is recommended that a property's EPC should be made available to potential buyers as soon as it is marketed for sale or rent. By 2050, the UK must have net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. To do so, 30 million homes, which contribute to 22 percent of the country’s emissions, need to decarbonise. Retrofitting the vast majority of UK homes with fabric first upgrades, energy-efficient appliances and low-carbon heating systems is a major and costly challenge requiring regulatory incentives to mobilise. You may be asking yourself how does a mees regulations fit into all of this?

During a commercial EPC assessment the energy assessor will collect information about the building. This will include plans, dimensions of the building, its purpose, the number of floors, the amount and type of glazing (i.e. single or double glazing), the heating systems and the fuel used. This information will be fed into an approved software programme using a Government approved energy assessment method. The software produces the certificate and the recommendation report for the building. Whilst the average Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of homes in England and Wales has improved from 45, a low ‘E’ in 1996 to 61, a ‘D’ in 20149. Upgrading energy efficiency from an EPC E to an EPC D can reduce energy costs by up to £380 per year on average10. For example, the annual running cost of a C rated home is £270 lower than the average D rated home and £650 less than the average E rated home. When a “New Build” is being constructed or a property is being converted, a different EPC is required for the completion of the Building Regulations - SAP EPC. The information for the assessment is gathered from the architects’ plans and does not require a visit. There is a set fee for an On Construction Energy Performance Certificate which is £138.00 inc VAT. Commercial Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) are energy reports that determine how energy efficient a building or commercial premises is. The ratings on a commercial EPC start from G (least energy efficient), going up to an A for the most energy efficient building. Unlike the domestic EPCs, commercial reports start from 0, which is a very good rating going up to 150 and beyond for the worst energy performing properties. EPCs assess buildings by giving them a standard energy and carbon emission efficiency grade from ‘A’ to ‘G’, where ‘A’ is the best and with the average to date being D/E. Property with the best ratings are more attractive to potential tenants and buyers as they are cheaper to run. Advising on matters such as mees will provide benefits in the long run.

Identify Areas For ImprovementWhere an EPC address for a building isn't listed or is listed incorrectly then the Energy Assessor is required to make a request. Where the property is in England or Wales this is almost by return however in Scotland it is a longer process. Industrial sites and workshops, buildings are demolished, structures are used for less than 2 years, and stand-alone buildings with less than 50 square metres of valuable floor space are among the facilities that do not require an EPC. EPCs are usually valid for 10 years from the date of issue. Owners of some larger public buildings, for example, colleges and museums, are required to display the EPC on the premises. A Commercial EPC can only be produced by an accredited Non-Domestic Energy Assessor (NDEA) and is valid for ten years. Once produced, it is lodged on the Government’s National Non-Domestic EPC Register and is designed to give potential buyers and tenants some basic information about the building’s energy efficiency rating. This is so they can better understand the costs of running the building and changes or improvements they might wish to consider. If you need an EPC, contact a member of an 'approved organisation' (AO). These organisations have been chosen as their members have the skills and expertise needed to produce an EPC. They can make suitable recommendations for improving the building's energy efficiency. Its always best to consult the experts when considering commercial epc these days.

The official energy performance assessment can only be carried out by a certified energy assessor. It is possible to calculate the EPC yourself to estimate its value, but in no case will this estimate be valid for selling or renting a property. The calculation must take into account several criteria such as the year of construction of the property, its surface area and if it is attached to other buildings. The main section of an EPC shows a property’s performance rating, from A to G, with A being the most efficient and G being the least. The certificate shows the property’s current rating and a projected rating that could be achieved through a series of recommendations, which are outlined on page three. The document also shows the estimated costs of running the property, including projected lighting, heating, and hot water expenses. Commercial EPCs are much more time consuming, more detailed and not least, much more beneficial to a potential tenant or buyer. It is not unusual to see potential savings in the thousands just by changing the type of lighting in an office block or factory. A recent report by the UK Energy Research Centre claimed that “cost-effective investments to 2035 could save around one quarter of the energy currently used, an average saving of £270 per household per year at current energy prices.” If an EPC for the property currently shows a rating of F or G, then the landlord must make improvements to bring the property up to an E rating before the relevant date. If the tenant has a right to renew under the Landlord and Tenants Act 1954, the Regulations do not interfere with these rights, therefore neither the tenant nor the landlord can use the non-compliance as a justification for refusing to renew, or terminating the lease early. An understanding of the challenges met by epc commercial property can enhance the value of a project.