BUSINESSES in the Advertiser and Review region will now have to produce energy performance certificates (EPC) if they are putting their properties up for rent or sale following the introduction of new Government legislation.
As of April 8, commercial buildings with a floor area of more than 10,000sqm which are up for sale, rent or are being built need to produce an EPC, which shows the energy efficiency of a building.
Further legislation for commercial properties with
a floor area of more than 2,500sqm will come into effect on July 1 while commercial properties with a floor area of more than 1,000sqm will have to produce a certificate from October 1.
Tom Whelan, who runs Independent Energy Assessors, which is based at Stowe, said: "This will affect any property measuring more than 1,000sqm and these certificates give a carbon emission footprint for those properties. They also make recommendations on how property owners can improve their ratings."
The EPCs base their energy rating on the fabric of the building and heating, ventilation and lighting and are accompanied by a recommendation report which shows how the energy performance of a building can be improved and how to reduce CO2 emissions.
Mr Whelan said commercial buildings were responsible for 20% of the UK's CO2 emissions. "The environment is very important to us and 25 years from now if we haven't done something, we will wish we had," he said.
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