By October 2008 occupiers of public buildings with floor areas of more than 1000 sq m, must have a Display Energy Certificate (DEC). DECs are being introduced to raise public awareness of energy use by displaying the actual energy use and energy efficiency of the buildings they visit. This is based on records of gas, electricity and other meter readings or fuel delivery records in the case of oil or solid fuel.
DECs include an A-G energy rating for the building, where A has the lowest CO2 emissions (best) and G the highest CO2 emissions (worst). The certificate is similar to those that are required for fridges and many other new white goods.
The rating is also shown as a number. A typical building of its type would have a rating of 100 and a building with twice the typical CO2 emissions would have a rating of 200 (or G). The DEC rating shows whether the occupier is using energy well or badly and the trend over the last three years.
It is estimated that 40 000 buildings will require DECs, a large proportion of which will be schools. The regulations apply to individual buildings, so school sites with several large buildings will need more than one certificate. Similarly, where individual buildings, for example smaller blocks and temporary classrooms, are each less than 1000 sq m a DEC is not required even if the total floor area of the school exceeds 1000 sq m.
For more information about DECs visit:
http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/management/resourcesfinanceandbuilding/
schoolbuildings/energyefficiency/certificates/ |
