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Asset certificates will measure the intrinsic energy performance of the building based on its design. Operating certificates will measure how the building is managed and actually performs. Asset certificates will have to be renewed every 10 years and shown on points of sale, lease and lease renewal. The purpose is to encourage better buying behaviour in both building owners and tenants. Operating certificates will be renewed on an annual basis and apply to buildings with a usable floor area greater than 1000m2. They must be displayed in all public buildings.
The likely impact of EPCs should be to differentiate good from poor performers. If a building’s energy performance can be measured consistently and objectively, it can be managed and priced. Higher performers should attract a premium, thereby increasing the business case for energy efficient buildings.
FAQ:
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Under the EU EPBD, Article 7 EPCs were supposed to have been implemented in January 2006. When will they be implemented?
The Directive allowed member states to derogate implementation until January 2009 if they saw fit. Domestic dwellings will require asset certificates from June 2007. Non-domestic buildings will not require EPCs before October 2007, but initial intentions are to have the first wave of certificates rolled out by April 2008.
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Which buildings are considered ‘public’ for the purposes of mandatory display?
Initially only those public sector buildings regularly visited by the public, such as public sports centres, libraries, schools, hospitals and certain local government offices. However, the definition may be extended to cover all public sector buildings, subsequently private sector buildings visited by the public, including retail and hospitality and finally buildings with as little as 500m2 of usable floor area. There is nothing to stop a building owner from displaying an operating certificate voluntarily where they might gain from a CSR or commercial perspective.
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How are multi-tenanted or mixed use buildings being handled?
It is still under debate, but in principle certificates will be used at the point of control over the energy performance. Thus a building may have an asset certificate for the whole structure, but have separate operating certificates for each premise.
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Who will accredit non-domestic buildings?
Although still under discussion, there are a number of bodies that could oversee the accreditation. The system will probably rely on the SBEM software system.
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