What is a Commercial EPC (Energy Performance Certificate)?

Alan Rance Surveyors are experts in Commercial EPC services in Dunstable and the surrounding area. The purpose of a commercial EPC is to provide an energy rating for a building, based on the performance potential of that building in particular. The rating is given two grades between A – G; A being the most efficient, G being the least efficient. The ‘current’ grade, is the grade the building is currently operating at, with the ‘potential’ grade achievable through the use of energy saving methods, such as switching to a renewable energy source or upgrading a boiler. Services such as lighting, heating and ventilation are taken into account as well as the way in which these services are controlled.

This rating may then be used by potential buyers or tenants to make comparisons between properties, as an EPC gives the buyer an indication of any central heating or electricity costs based on the grade given. Our commercial EPC is also accompanied by a secondary report that provides recommendations on how the energy performance of the building could be enhanced. This is provided together with an indication of the payback period. These recommendations are provided in four categories, all relating to the payback period.

SECR is a new mandatory energy and carbon reporting scheme for larger companies that came into effect in April 2019.

Why Is It Being Introduced?

The UK government wants to reduce duplication in carbon reporting, to ease the burden on business. The Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) has been abolished as part of these reforms.

SECR – as its name suggests – has been introduced as a more streamlined reporting framework.

The government hopes that SECR will give organisations a clearer picture of their energy use, incentivising carbon reduction. There is a reputational driver too – reports will be publicly available, allowing increased transparency for investors and other stakeholders.

The reported data will also help to inform government plans for meeting its carbon targets, and achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

Who Does It Affect?

SECR applies to quoted companies, large unquoted companies, and large LLPs.

‘Large’ is defined by the Companies Act as having at least two of the following:

• A turnover of £36 million or more
• A balance sheet total of £18 million or more
• 250 employees or more

‘Large’ is defined as having two of the following: a turnover of £36 million or more, a balance sheet total of £18 million or more, or 250 employees or more.

It does not affect public sector organizations such as council and some public funded universities.

For more information on this, please get in contact with me 07962 457456.