Planning, building and the environment

Energy performance

New measures to improve the energy performance of our buildings.

Approximately 42 per cent of all carbon emissions in the UK come from buildings.

The Department for Communities and Local Government has introduced measures in England and Wales to improve the energy efficiency of our buildings, including:

  • introducing energy performance certificates (EPCs) for properties providing A-G efficiency ratings and recommendations for improvement
  • requiring public buildings to display energy certificates (DECs)
  • requiring inspections for air conditioning systems
  • giving advice and guidance for boiler users

Since October 2008 all properties - homes, commercial and public buildings - when, sold, built or rented have needed an EPC and larger public buildings need to display a display energy certificate (DEC).

The first inspection of all existing air-conditioning systems over 250kW must now have occurred and the first inspection of all remaining air-conditioning systems over 12kW must take place by 4 January 2011. More information is available on the 'Air-conditioning inspections' page (see 'In this section', below).

This work is part of European legislation - the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive - which all member states must adopt.

For further information, please consult the links below.

In this section

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