Revised building regulations to increase energy efficiency standards for buildings came into effect on 6th April 2006. The tough new standards apply to all new buildings and any existing buildings where building work is carried out, with all residential, public and commercial buildings being affected. Each time any building, whether new or existing, is sold or let, an energy certificate of no more than 10 years old will have to be shown to the prospective purchasers or tenants.

Due to the logistical issues involved in implementing the scheme, a three year dispensation exists to comply with articles 7 to 10 of the new regulations, article 7 of which covers the need for an Energy Certificate to be displayed. The Certificate will contain information detailing a building’s energy performance and its operational rating. Fig 3 shows a likely format for such an Energy Certificate.

It is as yet unclear as to when the deadlines for certification will be set, but in preparation, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) has launched a massive training programme to help builders and building control bodies prepare for the changes.

The new regulations set overall performance standards for new buildings but do not prescribe particular methods for meeting them to allow flexibility in design. The requirement to meet the standards will provide a strong incentive for developers to make greater use of energy saving insulation, more efficient boilers and consider using Low or Zero Carbon Systems such as solar panels and mini-wind turbines to demonstrate greater compliance.

Illustration of a possible format for a non-domestic building Energy Certificate.