Sustainability Flashcards
What is an EPC?
Energy Performance Certificates are a rating scheme to summarise the energy efficiency of buildings. The building is given a rating between A-G and will include tips on the most cost-effective ways to improve energy performance.
Why do we have Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs)?
The EU Directive: Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (2010); which in lead to the UK Government implementing the Energy Performance of Buildings (England & Wales) Regulations (2012).
Where do you find EPCs?
On the EPC register from the Ministry for Housing Communities and Local Government, there is a domestic and non-domestic register.
What are the Five provisions of the Climate Change Act?
- Higher standards of energy conservation for new and refurbished buildings.
- Establishing a calculation methodology for the energy performance of all buildings
- Minimum requirements for energy performance of all buildings
- Energy certification for all buildings when leased or sold.
- Mandatory inspection of boilers and air conditioning systems in buildings.
When are EPCs Required?
When a commercial buildings over 50m² is;
* Newly built
* Sold / leased
* Leased for longer than 6 months
* Refurbished
* Heating/air conditioning is altered
* Lease is assigned / sub-let
Under what Circumstance might you not need an EPC?
If the building is listed, buildings that have no heating, religious buildings, tenancy less than 6 months and no security of tenure, temporary buildings (less than 2 years), buildings that are due to be demolished, residential properties occupied for less than 4 months per year.
What are the requirements in relation to EPCs when marketing a property?
You must commission the EPC within 7 days of beginning the marketing of the property (28 day limit for procurement). Agents are responsible for this, and only the actual energy rating is required but where space the graph should be shown. All online marketing material must have a link to show the front page of the EPC document.
What is included on the front page of an EPC Certificate?
Property address, Floor area, EPC reference number, Technical information on the property, estimated running costs, energy performance rating, benchmarking information.
What are the Penalties for Non-Compliance with EPCs on marketing material?
Local authority will fine you £200 for marketing a residential property without an EPC. For commercial the limit is 12.5% of the Rateable Value of the Property (Collared at £500, and Capped at £5,000).
What are the changes that are happening to private rented property with regard to EPC rating?
Under the Energy Efficiency Regulation 2015 – New leases will not be able to be granted on properties (commercial and residential) with an EPC rating of F or G, as of the 1st April 2018. As of the 1st April 2023 for existing leases (April 2020 for residential).
Under what Circumstances would you be exempt from MEES?
- If a property doesn’t need an EPC (places of worship, tenancy more than 99 years, low energy demand buildings etc…)
- Industrial units with low energy demand (e.g no heating)
- If increasing the EPC rating to E isn’t feasible even when all possible improvement with a payback of 7 years or sooner have been made. Quotes obtained from 3 energy assessors.
- When the devaluation case can be proven, where improvements would reduce the market value of a property by more than 5%.
- Residential Landlords are required to spend £3,500 form April 2019 to bring the property up to E, if they do so and it doesn’t come up to E they can apply for exemption.
- Exemptions last 5 years and can’t be transferred at sale.
What are the Penalties for Non-Compliance with MEES?
Failure to comply with MEES (2015) will result in fines of:
* Non-domestic - If breach is less than 3 months: £5,000 or if great 10% of the rateable value (up to max of £50,000)
* Non-domestic - If breach is more than 3 months: £10,000 or if greater 20% of the rateable value (up to a max of £150,000).
* Domestic breach – less than 3 months = £2,000
* Domestic breach – over 3 months = £4,000
* Residential Landlords are required to spend £3,500 form April 2019 to bring the property up to E, if they do so and it doesn’t come up to E they can apply for exemption.
* MEES is Policed by Local Authority.
What are the potential changes to MEES regime?
The UK government has undertaken a consultation and indicated that the minimum MEES threshold will rise from E to C by 2027 and B by 2030. Given commercial leases, this will require energy efficiency upgrades to premises as and when available.
EPC must be registered on a new database by April 2025, Properties with a registered EPC below a C have to be improved by 2027. By April 2028, another EPC must be registered. Same thing by needs to comply to hit B.
What impact can property have on the environment?
The built environment accounts for 40% of emissions globally
What is sustainable development?
Development that meets the needs of the present generation, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
