About...the background on the introduction of the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)

The requirement for an Energy Performance Certificate has been set by a European Directive, EPBD2002/91/EC on the energy performance of buildings, which all member states had to implement into national law before January 2009. The EU found through research that a significant proportion of energy was increasingly being used by both residential and commercial buildings. Achieving increases in energy efficiency in the millions of properties across will result in a significant overall reduction in energy use and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. In the UK, domestic energy consumption causes around 30% of CO2 emissions and providing heating uses around 90% of energy in the home.

Carbon Dioxide is one of the main greenhouse gases suspected of contributing to the effect of Global Warming, the term used to describe the increase in temperature of the Earths atmosphere. 

Approximately 170 million buildings in the EU use over 40% of Europes energy and create 40% of its carbon emissions, and that proportion is increasing. Under the 2002 Kyoto World states protocol, Europe is committed to reducing emissions and the EU directive is intended to significantly contribute to achieving this.  

How is this energy used?

Within the EU heating fuel is the most important energy component, 57% domestic energy consumption and 52% non domestic use. Water heating accounts for 25% domestic consumption and 9% non domestic use. Lighting accounts for up to 25% of energy use and carbon emissions, mainly due to the level of use by commercial buildings.

How much energy can be saved?

The EU estimates that cost effective savings of around 22% of present energy consumption in buildings can be achieved by 2010. The UK Government has set its own target to reduce UK carbon emissions of between 26-32% of 1990 levels by 2020.  

How can we understand building energy and improve on our energy use?  

The principal objective of the EU Directive is to promote the improvement of the energy performance of buildings through cost effective measures. The EU Directive called on all member states to implement a methodology for the calculation of the energy performance of buildings both new and existing, taking into account all factors that influence energy use. The regulations also set minimum energy performance standards for new buildings and for buildings when they are refurbished.

The SAP methodology is the Governments Standard Assessment procedure for the energy assessment and rating of dwellings. It has been adopted by Government as part of the national methodology for the calculation of the energy performance of buildings. It is used to show compliance with Part L of the Building Regulations 2000 (England and Wales). 

The Reduced Data Standard Assessment procedure (RdSAP) is the Governments approved calculation methodology for existing dwellings. A full SAP assessment requires many data items that cannot be seen in an inspection of an existing dwelling (or may take too long to collect). RdSAP is an industry agreed standard set of data items and standard method of inferring the missing data not available.

For non dwellings the Simplified Building Energy Model (SBEM) is the software calculation methodology program that provides an analysis of a buildings energy consumption. The SBEM tool is designed to be used for buildings that are not dwellings. It has been adopted by Government as part of the National methodology for calculation of the energy performance of buildings. It is used also to demonstrate compliance for dwellings with Part L of the Building Regulations 2000 (England and Wales).       

The EU Directive requires that an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is made available whenever buildings are constructed, sold or rented out.

To view further information on the (EU) Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and the UK timetable of further EPC implementation, click on this link 

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