What is BREEAM
EPC (Energy Performance Certificate)
Energy Performance Certificates fall under the Energy Performance Building Directive (EPBD), which requires buildings to have energy ratings similar to those displayed on white goods.
The aim of Building Energy Ratings (BER) is to offer more visibility to prospective buyers and tenants of residential and non-residential properties that are constructed, sold, or rented out.
An overview of EPCs
An EPC is an assessment of the predicted carbon emissions arising from energy uses within a building. An 'A' rating represents the lowest carbon emissions and a 'G' rating represents the highest.
EPCs are mandatory for all buildings covered by Part L of the 2006 Building Regulations (Part L is concerned with fuel and energy conservation), and can only be produced as the result of a survey by an accredited domestic energy assessor.
The certification process assesses the capability of the building to be energy efficient, which is measured against a set of benchmarks and rates the building based on its CO2 emissions. For an EPC, it is a theoretical ability based on the building's design.
Scottish EPC regulations
In Scotland EPCs do not undergo the same domestic energy assessor survey as in England and Wales. Scottish EPCs for non-domestic dwellings are generated by the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA) and a host of other regulatory and professional organisations.
What are the benefits of EPCs?
An EPC allows occupiers, buyers and tenants to take into consideration energy costs and energy performance when procuring a property.
The EPBD has been adopted throughout the EU and applies to all construction projects and aims to reduce carbon emissions in the long term.