DECs - 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 came into effect on 1 October 2008
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An example of what a DEC might look like is shown to the right.
The Operational Rating is a numerical indicator of the actual annual carbon dioxide emissions from the building. This rating is shown on a scale from A to G, where A is the lowest (best) and G is the highest (worst).
Also shown are the Operational Ratings for the last two years; this provides information on whether the energy performance of the building is improving or not.
The Advisory Report will contain recommendations for improving the energy performance of the building. A DEC is valid for 12 months and needs to be updated annually. The accompanying Advisory Report is valid for 7 years.
A DEC must contain, by law, the following information:
- The operational rating and the asset rating (if available) as determined by the government approved method
- Show the operational ratings for the building expressed in any certificates displayed by the occupier during the last two years before the nominated date
- Include a reference value such as a current legal standard or benchmark
The DEC will also show the unique certificate reference number, the address of the building, the total useful floor area of the building, the name of the energy assessor, their employer (or trading name if self employed), the name of their accreditation scheme and the date when the DEC was issued.
The DEC must be accompanied by an Advisory Report. DECs are valid for 12 months, advisory reports for seven years.
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.