Energy Performance Certificates required for schools, colleges and universities

Business-to-business energy consultancy energyTEAM is warning many UK schools and further education establishments they could face fines of up to £5,000 due to ignorance and inaction. This will potentially cost the UK education sector millions of pounds.

The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, designed to reduce carbon emissions, was phased in from April 6^th for commercial buildings over 10,000m² and will cover all buildings from October 2008. It requires all schools, colleges and universities to provide EPCs when they construct, sell, lease or modify their premises. An EPC will highlight the efficiency of the building.

Failure to have the appropriate certificate and advisory report could lead to a fine of £5,000 per building, the maximum penalty prescribed by the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.

The only way for businesses to gain the EPC certification is to have an accredited engineer survey their site, produce a report and provide the relevant certificates.

Brian Rickerby, joint managing director, energyTEAM comments: “It is a real concern that the UK’s educational sector is at risk of fines because it didn’t know about the EPC deadline just when times are hard enough. My advice to those without any contingency plan is to talk to an energy advisor and book an accredited energy assessor to come and assess their site without delay.

“There is already a backlog of EPC survey requests building up. The Department of Communities and Local Government recently admitted it expected only around 20 accredited assessors to be trained in time for the launch.”