Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs)
Work to design the Energy Performance Certificates required by the EU Directive was carried out on behalf of Defra by a team comprising a number of organisations with expertise in energy efficiency in dwellings.
Faero Ltd, the organisation designated in Approved Document ADL1a to recognise competent persons for the calculation of Carbon Dioxide Emission Rate calculations, is the successor to one of those organisations - the Federation of Authorised Energy Rating Organisations. The Federation, which was formed in 1998 and operated until early 2006, was the trade association representing the suppliers of quality assured energy ratings (the Authorised Energy Rating Organisations, or AEROs).
The work on Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) carried out on behalf of Defra only considered the requirement for existing dwellings, not new homes. The work involved the Federation, the Building Research Establishment (BRE), and the Energy Saving Trust, working together with Defra. The Federation also worked with BRE to create the Reduced Data SAP (RDSAP) procedure, which defines how the necessary data should be collected, so that an EPC for existing homes can be produced consistently and accurately to an agreed industry standard. This methodology is now in use to create EPCs for existing homes via the HIP, which came into effect for existing homes with 4 bedrooms or more on 1st August, 2007.
More information about the development of RDSAP, and the EPC for existing homes, can be found on the following link:
RDSAP is defined within the published SAP2005 document, which may be downloaded here: BRE's SAP2005 website
This website also provides further information about RDSAP2005, including a list of approved RDSAP software providers.
Legislation introducing EPCs
According to new legislation, made on 23 March 2007, laid before Parliament on 29 March 2007 and coming into force over a range of dates beginning on 19 April 2007, Energy Performance Certificates for new homes will be required from 1st January, 2008. Work to design the Certificate for new homes is expected to commence shortly, and further information will be provided here when it is available.
The newly laid Energy Performance Regulations are available from the Office of Public Sector Information, reference SI 2007/991, on the following link si20070991
CLG has also produced a Circular Letter: Communities and Local Government Circular 02/2007. The purpose of this Circular is to explain the new duties introduced by the Regulations, including when and to whom the requirements for EPCs, DECs and air-conditioning inspections apply. The Circular also sets out how certificates and reports will be registered, and explains enforcement responsibilities and procedures. The Circular is available on this link: circular letter
CLG has also published the Home Information Pack Regulations 2007. These regulations (SI 2007/992) are relevant to the implementation of EPCs for marketed sales of domestic dwellings, as EPCs for dwellings with 4 bedrooms or more is a mandatory document in Home Information Packs, as of 1 August 2007. These Regulations are available from the Office of Public Sector Information on the following link: HIP regulations
Qualifications for delivering Energy Performance Certificates
Energy Performance Certificates for all homes (whether old or new) will be delivered by qualified individuals. Asset Skills, the Sector Skills Council for the property industry, has a contract with CLG to deliver National Occupational Standards (NOS) for energy assessors.
Asset Skills' first task was to prepare the NOS for Domestic Energy Assessors, who will undertake surveys of existing homes using RDSAP. Their next priority is the development of NOS for SAP Energy Assessors (SEAs), who will undertake energy assessments of new homes using SAP. Finally, their task also includes development of NOS for energy assessors of buidings other than dwellings, and for the other professions required by the EU Directive, such as air conditioning inspectors.
Last year, Asset Skills invited comments on the draft NOS for Domestic Energy Assessors (DEAs). Note that the NOS for DEAs only relate to persons who would undertake inspections of existing homes using RDSAP. These NOS were accepted by QCA (the qualifications and curriculum authority) early in 2007, and qualifications against them are now available.
The NOS for SAP Energy Assessors, for new homes, are still being developed. Drafts of these NOS have been placed on Asset Skills energy project website (link below) for comment.
Faero has assisted Asset Skills to develop the NOS for On Construction Domestic Energy Assessors (previously known as SAP Energy Assessors), based on the Faero occupational standards for the use of SAP by competent persons. Competent persons registered with Faero, for the purpose of using SAP for the calculation of Carbon Dioxide Emission Rate calculations, will therefore already satisfy these Standards within the new NOS for On Construction Domestic Energy Assessors.
For more information, and to see the draft NOS, please click on the links below.