Communities and Local Government

• Planning, building and the environment
• The Environment
• Energy Performance of Buildings
• Other buildings
• Display Energy Certificates

Planning, building and the environment

Display Energy Certificates

Display Energy Certificates (DECs) show the actual energy usage of a building, the Operational Rating, and help the public see the energy efficiency of a building. This is based on the energy consumption of the building as recorded by gas, electricity and other meters. The DEC should be clearly displayed at all times and clearly visible to the public. A DEC is always accompanied by an Advisory Report that lists cost effective measures to improve the energy rating of the building.

Display Energy Certificates are only required for buildings with a total useful floor area over 1,000m 2 that are occupied by a public authority and institution providing a public service to a large number of persons and therefore visited by those persons. They are valid for one year. The accompanying Advisory Report is valid for seven years.

The requirement for Display Energy Certificates comes into effect from 1 October 2008.

New measures to support October 2008 implementation

Public authorities are already producing DECs ahead of October and a range of buildings now have the certificates including Eland House and the Natural History Museum.

However, to make it easier for public authorities with multiple buildings on one site to comply with the legislation, a site-based approach for the first year is to be allowed where it is not possible to produce individual DECs. This means that only one DEC will need to be produced based on the total energy consumption of the buildings on the site. Public bodies most likely to be affected by this approach are NHS Trusts, universities and schools.

The arrangements announced on 17 July 2008 respond to feedback from our lead-in process and are the result of consultation with key partners. Guidance on the site-based approach is now available.

To help with implementation a new DVD has been produced to help public authorities understand the DEC and what they need to do. The dvd is available on our website (see link on right) - and features buildings which have had a DEC assessment.

This includes Eland House - Communities and Local Government HQ - which has been given a F rating. An energy efficiency action plan is now being developed to help improve next year's rating and replace equipment nearing end of life based on the advisory report that comes with the DEC. 

E-mail: help@epduk.info

In this section

• What a Display Energy Certificate looks like and contains
• When are Display Energy Certificates required?
• How to obtain a Display Energy Certificate
• Compliance and appeals
• Energy assessors
• Guidance on Display Energy Certificates (DECs)

Related publications

• Getting ready for DECs

  • Published: 13 August 2008
  • Site: Planning, building and the environment

• Display Energy Certificates and Advisory Reports: Transitional arrangements for buildings on a site or campus

  • Published: 7 August 2008
  • Site: Planning, building and the environment

• A guide to Display Energy Certificates and advisory reports for public buildings

  • Published: 9 May 2008
  • Site: Planning, building and the environment