Planning, building and the environment

When are Display Energy Certificates required?

What is required and when?

If you are an occupier of a building requiring a DEC you need to display the certificate showing an Operational Rating in a prominent place clearly visible to the public. A valid advisory report is also needed.

If you are a new occupier, or have been in occupation for less than 15 months by 1 October 2008, you may not have 12 months of meter readings available that are required for an Operational Rating. The legislation makes provisions for calculation over the period of occupation in these cases.

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. Display Energy Certificates and Advisory Reports: Transitional arrangements for buildings on a site or campus (see Related publications below) has more information on the site-based approach.

DECs must be renewed every 12 months.

If you are in possession of an Energy Performance Certificate - which are currently being introduced and will be required for the sale, rent or construction of all buildings from October 2008 - you will have an Asset Rating for the building. This must also be displayed on the DEC.

What buildings are affected?

Only buildings with a total useful floor area over 1000m2 that are occupied or part occupied either by public authorities and by institutions providing public services to a large number of people and therefore visited by those persons are affected by this legislation.

Where a building is partly occupied by a public authority or a relevant institution, the authority or institution is responsible for displaying a DEC and having a valid advisory report.

Other private organisations occupying the building, irrespective of the size they occupy, do not need to display a DEC. A guide to Display Energy Certificates and advisory reports for public buildings (see Related publications below) has more information.