Energy Performance of Buildings Directive

Contents 1 Introduction 2 Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 3 Find out more 3.1 Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki. 3.2 External references

[edit] Introduction

The EU Directive on the energy performance of buildings was adopted in 2002. It was intended to improve the energy efficiency of buildings, reduce carbon emissions and reduce the impact of climate change.

On 19 May 2010, the Council of the European Union and European Parliament adopted a recast of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive in order to strengthen the energy performance requirements of buildings. In addition it clarified and streamlined some of the provisions from the 2002 Directive it replaced. The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive and the 2012 Energy Efficiency Directive are the two main pieces of legislation aimed at reducing the energy consumption of buildings.

The principle underlying the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive is to make the energy efficiency of buildings transparent by requiring an energy performance certificate showing the energy rating of buildings, accompanied by recommendations on how to improve its efficiency.

The main points of the directive are as follows:

• When buildings are advertised for sale or rent, energy performance certificates are to be included.
• Larger public buildings must display a Display Energy Certificate (DEC).
• Inspection schemes must be established for heating and air conditioning systems or measures put in place with equivalent effect.
• All new buildings must be nearly zero energy buildings by 31 December 2020 (public buildings by 31 December 2018).
• EU countries must set minimum energy performance requirements for new buildings, for buildings that undergo major renovations and for the replacement or retrofit of building elements (heating and cooling systems, roofs, walls, etc.).
• EU countries have to draw up lists of national financial measures to improve the energy efficiency of buildings.

[edit] Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations

The Department for Communities and Local Government is the UK government department responsible for implementing the directive in England & Wales. Energy performance is a devolved matter in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The requirements of the first directive were originally introduced in England and Wales by the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007, implementation of which was completed on 1 October 2008.

The requirements of the recast directive were implemented by the Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 2012 which took effect on 9 January 2013. This consolidated and revoked all previous regulations.

The regulations require that:

• Energy performance certificates (EPC's) are produced for certain dwellings and non dwellings.
• Display energy certificates (DEC's) are produced for large public buildings.
• Air conditioning inspections are carried out for systems above a certain size.

Various guidance documents have been produced to help ensure that the requirements of the regulations are met:

• Energy Performance Certificates for the construction, sale and let of non-dwellings.
• Energy Performance Certificates for the construction, sale and let of dwellings.
• Display Energy Certificates and advisory reports for public buildings.
• Air conditioning inspections for buildings.
• Local weights and measures authority guidance for the enforcement of the requirements of the Energy Performance Building Regulations 2012.

[edit] Find out more

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.

• Air conditioning inspections.
• CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme.
• Display energy certificate.
• Emission rates.
• Energy Act.
• Energy performance certificate.
• Energy related products regulations.
• Green rating systems.
• Nearly zero-energy building.
• Non-domestic private rented property minimum standard.
• Performance gap.
• Simplified Building Energy Model.
• Zero carbon homes.
• Zero carbon non-domestic buildings.

[edit] External references

• Display Energy Certificates and advisory reports for public buildings.
• Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007.
• Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.
• Energy Performance Certificates for the construction, sale and let of dwellings.
• Energy Performance Certificates for the construction, sale and let of non-dwellings.
• Local weights and measures authority guidance for the enforcement of the requirements of the Energy Performance Building Regulations 2012.