sustainability advice

 

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Our sustainability services cover:

 

CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme

The CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme (formerly known as the Carbon Reduction Commitment) is the UK's mandatory climate change and energy saving scheme, due to start in April 2010. It is central to the UK's strategy for improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, as set out in the Climate Change Act 2008. It has been designed to raise awareness in large organisations, especially at senior level, and encourage changes in behaviour and infrastructure. The schemes amended title serves to better reflect the CRC's focus on increasing energy efficiency.

 

calfordseaden are able to assist with a range of services including assistance in setting up the CRC process, surveys, reports and recommendations for energy efficiency and CO2 reductions. We are also able to assist with the on going advice and management process of the scheme.

 

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Commercial Energy Performance Certificates

An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is intended to inform potential buyers or tenants about the energy performance of a building, so they can consider energy efficiency as part of their investment or business decision to buy or occupy that building.

 

An EPC will provide an energy rating for a building which is based on the performance potential of the building itself (the fabric) and its services (such as heating, ventilation and lighting). The energy rating given on the certificate reflects the intrinsic energy performance standard of the building relative to a benchmark which can then be used to make comparisons with comparable properties. It is accompanied by a recommendation report, which provides recommendations on how the energy performance of the building could be enhanced, together with an indication of the payback period.

 

An EPC is only required for a building when constructed, sold or let.

For the purposes of the regulations, a building is defined as:

a roofed construction having walls, for which energy is used to condition the indoor climate, and a reference to a building includes a reference to a part of a building which has been designed or altered to be used separately".

 

For a building to fall within the requirement for an EPC it must

  • have a roof and walls
  • use energy to condition the indoor climate

 

Services that are considered to condition the indoor climate are the following fixed services: heating, mechanical ventilation or air-conditioning. Although the provision of hot water is a fixed building service, it does not "condition the indoor environment" and would not therefore be a trigger for an EPC. The same argument applies to electric lighting.

 

Where a building is expected to have heating, mechanical ventilation or air conditioning installed, it will require an EPC based on the assumed fit out in accordance with the requirements in Part L of the Building Regulations. A building can be either:

 

  • the whole of a building
  • part of a building, where the part is designed or altered to be used separately.

 

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Existing Domestic Energy Performance Certificates
The European Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings (EPBD) is a key part of strategies for tackling climate change. Nearly half of all carbon emissions in this country come from buildings. The principle underlying the Directive is to make energy efficiency transparent by the issuing of a certificate showing the energy rating of a property, accompanied by recommendations on how to improve efficiency. Article 7 of the EPBD concerning Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) will be fully implemented by the end of 2008.

 

Under Article 7 of the Directive, any building which is sold, rented out or constructed must have an EPC. This must be issued by a qualified and accredited assessor in an independent manner. Once produced an EPC is valid for ten years. The certificate is accompanied by recommendations about how to improve energy efficiency. These do not however have to be implemented. This part of the Directive has been implemented into law in England and Wales by the Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations (2007/991)1.

 

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SAP and As Built EPCs

The provision of Home Information Packs to potential buyers on all newly built property is now mandatory whether you are marketing completed or off plan property. However, it should be noted that there are some exemptions to requiring Home Information Packs for newly built property, more information on this can be found in our fact sheet.

 

We specialise in the provision of the Energy Performance Assessments and we can also provide you with the full Home Information Pack via our Partner Companies. The energy performance information is presented over 3 stages.

SAP Assessments

This report is required on each property type, for example if you have 100 properties and 10 types of property designs within the development you will need 10 SAP Assessments. You will need the SAP Assessment at the planning stage. You will also require an update to your current SAP Calculations if they were completed prior to 2005. Our pricing structure includes updates to any previous SAP Calculations that may have been completed. This is an important aspect to our work, the content of the On Construction EPC is taken from the latest SAP Calculations, as this EPC is related to the ‘as built' specification of the property it is important to update the SAP Calculations with current and final specifications in order to record the most accurate and up to date information in the EPC.

 

Predictive Energy Assessments (PEA)

You will need a PEA if you market the property off the plans and this will form part of the Home Information Pack. The PEA summarises the SAP Assessment and presents it in a format which is easy to understand and takes a similar presentation to Energy Performance Certificates.


If the property is exempt from requiring a Home Information Pack it is also exempt from requiring a PEA. Please refer to our fact sheet for further information on exemptions.

 

On Construction EPC (OCEPC)

When the property is completed you will need to commission an On Construction Energy Performance Certificate (OCEPC). Please use the online calculator opposite to obtain an initial quotation. We would need to verify the amount of designs within the development once we have seen a full set of floor plans, we can therefore confirm the quotation for you once you have provided us with the relevant information. Secondly, the OCEPC will replace the PEA in the Home Information Pack, if the property has not already been sold off the plans.

 

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