Display energy certificate DEC

[edit] In brief

Display energy certificates (DEC's) show the energy performance of a building based on actual energy consumption. For certain types of building, they must be displayed prominently in a place visible to the public and are intended to raise public awareness of the energy use of buildings.

Buildings are rated from A to G, with A representing a very efficient building and G a not very efficient building.Display energy certificates are required for buildings that:

• use energy to condition an indoor climate, and;
• have a total usable floor area of over 500 square metres, and;
• are occupied by public authorities, and ;
• have a roof and walls, and;
• are frequently visited by the public.

They are valid for one year and must be updated annually, although for buildings less than 1,000 square metres they are valid for 10 years. An advisory report must also be prepared every seven years giving recommendations to owners and occupiers about making their building more energy efficient.

[edit] Updates

In December 2024 the UK government published a consultation seeking views on the reform of the Energy Performance of Buildings (EPB) framework, for England and Wales (Scotland and now Northern Ireland being devolved matters). The consultation published by MHCLG and DESNZ and closed 26 February 2025, and covers:

• Improving regulations, applicability, quality, and data usage of domestic and non-domestic buildings
• updating EPC metrics and refining requirements for both EPCs and DECs
• improving data management protocols and strengthening quality control
• revising air conditioning inspection reports (ACIRs)

The minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES) regulations are not being changed at this stage (but maybe reviewed at a later date.) Although MEES and EPCs are closely related this consultation concerns EPCs primarily and DECs secondarily. For example whilst existing exemptions to MEES may continue, exemptions from the requirement for an EPC will most likely change. A key difference here is that exemptions under MEES are linked to a specific landlord and property (which means if a new landlord holds the property, a new re-registration is required). EPCs however are linked to the property itself.

Some key changes being considered also include changes to the requirements for DECs aswell as non-domestic EPCs:

• Headline EPC metrics to cover fabric efficiency, heating system, readiness to smart tech and energy cost with others metrics secondary. DECs remain as are with a carbon focus, perhaps with other metrics added later. Possible future EPC metrics; climate resilience, health and wellbeing, biodiversity, water efficiency.
• Changing EPC requirement from 10 to anything as low a every 2 years. DEC from 10 to 7 years (250-1,000m²) and from 7 to 5 years (1,000m (recommendation report).
• Requirement for private landlords to keep EPC renewed even under same tenancy. For HMOs to require EPCs and EPC requirements for short-term rental properties.
• Whilst existing exemptions under Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards for historic buildings will remain, the EPC requirements will also extend to historic buildings.

See the article Brief notes on proposed changes to EPCs.

[edit] Background

Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) research Exploring the use of Display Energy Certificates, published in July 2013, suggested that, for organisations that are not engaged in energy management, collecting the information required can lead to a better understanding of energy usage. It can also provide building managers with evidence to help make the case for changes resulting in greater energy efficiency. For organisations that are already engaged in energy reduction, they help confirm which buildings are inefficient or those buildings that are not operating according to their design predictions.

A DECC Energy Saving Opportunity Scheme impact assessment, published in May 2013, analysed 48,000 display energy certificates and found that energy consumption per metre square of floor space fell by 2% more between 2008 and 2009 for public buildings with display energy certificates than comparable private sector buildings.

Display energy certificates can also be prepared for other buildings on a voluntary basis, and it was originally expected that the mandatory requirement would be rolled out over time to a wider range of buildings.

However, on 11 February 2015, the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) launched a consultation document, Display Energy Certificates: current regime and how it could be streamlined and improved, suggesting that, ‘It is possible that the current regulations for the issue and display of energy certificates in public buildings have gold-plated the requirements of the Directive.’

The purpose of the consultation is to inform updated guidance on display energy certificates and recommendation reports for public buildings. Most significantly, it proposes defining ‘frequently visited by the public’ as: 'daily attendance during days of operation by people for purposes unrelated to their residence, employment, education or training'. This would mean, for example, that a school used only as a school, would not need a display energy certificate because it is not daily attended by people who are neither staff nor pupils. A school that is also used for community functions would require a display energy certificate.

The UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) has said that the consultation "...simply beggars belief". Ref UKGBC Government proposal to scrap energy ratings for over 50,000 public buildings “beggars belief” 11 February 2015.

The consultation closed on 11 March 2015 and since then no decision appears to have been made. It is considered by some that the fact Eric Pickles' successor Greg Clark has been silent on the matter for so long, suggests the issue has been dropped, but in the absence of a statement on the matter from government, there remains uncertainty.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Accredited energy assessor.
• Air tightness.
• Building performance metrics.
• Certificates in the construction industry.
• CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme.
• Emission rates.
• Energy Act.
• Energy certificates for buildings.
• Energy performance certificate.
• Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.
• Energy related products regulations.
• Energy savings opportunity scheme.
• Energy targets.
• Green building.
• Green mortgage.
• Minimum energy efficiency standard (MEES).
• Minimum energy efficiency standard regulations for domestic and non-domestic buildings.
• Non-domestic private rented property minimum standard.
• Performance gap.
• Public authority.
• Public building.
• Simplified Building Energy Model.
• Sustainability.

[edit] External references

• Legislation: Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales).
• Department for Communities and Local Government: A guide to energy performance certificates for the construction, sale and let of non-dwellings.
• Department for Communities and Local Government: A guide to energy performance certificates for the construction, sale and let of dwellings.
• Department for Communities and Local Government: A guide to display energy certificates and advisory reports for public buildings.
• Department for Communities and Local Government: A guide to air conditioning inspections for buildings.
• Department for Communities and Local Government: Local weights and measures authority guidance for energy performance certificates and air conditioning inspections for buildings.
• Department for Communities and Local Government: Recast of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive - impact assessment.
• Guild of residential landlords: Changes to EPC Regulations 2013.
• RICS: Effectiveness of EPC for the Existing Housing Stock. September 2012.
• Jones Lang LaSalle: A Tale of Two buildings. Are EPCs a true indicator of energy efficiency? 2012.
• A close-up of elements on the Display Energy Certificate - for closer inspection. TEAM Energy (Energy Auditing Agency Ltd)