DISPLAY ENERGY CERTIFICATES
Display Energy Certificates for public buildings Since January 2013 Display Energy Certificates (DECs) need to be prominently displayed in buildings over 500m2 that are occupied by public authorities or institutions providing a public service. DECs for buildings over 500m2 - 1000m2 have a 10 year validity. Some newer buildings will have this information to hand, especially if the facilities managers have been maintaining a log book or operations and maintenance manuals (O&M); but often this information will need to be collected from a variety of documents held with separate departments within the organisation.
How could your business benefit from a CIBSE certified Energy Assessor? CIBSE Low Carbon Energy Assessors (LCEAs) are trained not only to provide you with a display energy certificate but to go further, to provide tailored advice to help you cut the energy costs and carbon emissions in your buildings. The operational rating on a DEC illustrates how efficiently the building is using energy. To calculate this rating a Low Carbon Energy Assessor will require information on the:
• type of building under assessment. • total floor area of the building.
Does your building need a DEC?
• annual energy use of the building
A DEC is required annually for public buildings and those occupied by public authorities which have a total useful area greater than 500m2 and provide a public service to a large number of people and are therefore frequently visited by those people. The display energy certificate has been a requirement since 1 October 2008 and shows the actual energy usage of a building. For more detailed information on DECs see the useful documents section below.
• methods used to heat and cool the building.
DECs rate the actual or operational energy performance of a building against established benchmarks and take into consideration the ways in which occupants use the building.
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(gas and electricity).
In addition, to ensure the accompanying Advisory Report provided by your Low Carbon Energy Assessors (LCEA) will provide relevant guidance to assist you in improving your Operational Rating in subsequent years, s/he will benefit from the following additional information:
• How the heating and cooling is controlled. • The use and method for heating/cooling water in the building.
• Type of lighting used in the building. • Any onsite energy generation (renewable, etc).
CIBSE LCEAs are trained and certified to provide a high quality professional service. Our Energy Assessors are at the forefront of the market because they hold the knowledge to make your building more energy efficient.
Useful Display Energy Certificate Documents Further information on DECs can be found in the downloadable documents below:
• Improving the Energy Efficiency of our Homes and Buildings - Display Energy Certificates Media Overview (MHCLG)
• Getting Ready for DECs (HM Government) • A Guide to Display Energy Certificates and Advisory Reports for Public Buildings (MHCLG) ■ For more information about DECs and to search our online register for a CIBSE certified DEC Energy Assessor in your area, visit: www.cibsecertification.co.uk/dec
CIBSE GUIDE TO BUILDING PERFORMANCE 2019 |
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