A few pointers on the new energy regulations
The Kyoto Protocol has now been ratified by the EU, which means that all European countries, including the UK, must reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by 2012 (relative to 1990 levels). Whilst the EU has an overall target of 8%, the UK's specific target is 12%.
In order to achieve the reductions, the EU introduced the Directive for the Energy Performance of Buildings. The UK’s version of this is the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) Regulations 2007, and the commercial buildings aspect of these regulations came into force on 6th April 2008.
These regulations require all commercial businesses to provide an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for the construction, sale or lease of buildings, phased in relative to the building size from the 6th April 2008.
In addition, public buildings with a floor area greater than 1000m2 will have to provide Display Energy Certificates (DECs), while all buildings will need to provide an Air Conditioning efficiency assessment certificate where the total cooling capacity is greater than 12kW.
> For more information on the new legislation, click here
