News
Many buildings have worst
Bill seeks major
boost to small-scale
energy rating, figures reveal
renewables
Details of proposed legislation
to encourage the use of
n
More than a fifth of public microgeneration schemes have
buildings with display energy been seen by CIBSE Journal.
certificates (DECs) have the worst A private members’ bill, due to
energy rating available, according to be published as the Journal went
government figures. to press, would cut red tape from
The ratings of nearly 9,000 public the planning process to enable
buildings show that 1,514 were householders to install micro-
classed as category G, while a further renewables, including sources of
1,799 were in the middle range of E. combined heat and power.
Data on the energy ratings of The bill, put forward by Peter
public buildings is being compiled Ainsworth, Tory MP for East
for the Department for Communities Surrey, also seeks to review the
and Local Government (DCLG), government’s renewables strategy
which found that 8,849 DECs had with a view to making ‘feed-in’
been completed in England and tariffs a reality.
Wales by December 2008.
Under regulations brought in last Nearly 9,000 DECs were completed by the end of 2008
year, larger buildings over 1,000m
squared that are regularly visited
DEC ratings of 8,849 buildings
which failed to have its energy data
by the public must have a DEC on to hand at the time of assessment
prominent display.
Rating No. of
was automatically rated as a G,
However, industry experts warned
buildings
Davies added.
against interpreting the high level of
A 55
He said the real test will come
G ratings too negatively at this stage. B 401 when all buildings are reassessed
“I think it’s profoundly unhelpful C 1,633 this year and next, revealing
to have people running around
D 2,634
whether action has been taken to
looking at a range of certificates
E 1,799
improve energy performance.
Peter Ainsworth MP
and saying ‘Oh, isn’t this awful’
F 813
CIBSE provides training for
because all that’s doing is creating
G 1,514
energy assessors who visit The Green Energy (Definition
a culture in which people are afraid buildings and provide energy and Promotion) Bill would also
Source: DCLG, Dec 2008
to acknowledge poor performance,” ratings. Davies admitted that make it easier to create biogas
said CIBSE technical director Hywel the A to G rating system didn’t from farm waste and feed it into
Davies. each certificate’s findings. As yet take account of aspects such the national grid – something
“What’s important is that these there is no requirement for action to as intensive occupancy – with that Ainsworth says isn’t yet being
buildings get ratings. If you don’t be taken once a DEC has been done. numbers of staff going well beyond exploited in the UK.
measure how public stock performs The first year’s results from the what was intended for the building The bill would also stop council
you can’t manage it.” energy ratings also cannot be fully – but he said this issue was likely tax bills increasing if a property is
The real issue, according to relied upon to reveal the true scale to be addressed as more buildings improved by having wind turbines
Davies, is getting action taken on of CO2 emissions, as any building received their DECs. or heat pumps installed.
Ainsworth told the Journal:
“I wanted to do something to
EU energy ratings revamp comes under fire
help move forward the whole
renewable energy sector and get
Plans to widen the scope of separate parts normally requires Davies was also concerned at rid of bureaucracy blockages.
European rules on the energy an Energy Performance Certificate the draft’s proposal to widen the “I feel Britain is lagging woefully
efficiency of buildings have raised (EPC) for each part. But the draft definition of air conditioning to behind other developed countries
concern among industry experts. changes remove the definition of mean any form of mechanical in exploiting the potential small-
The European Energy a building as having “a whole or ventilation, which would bring scale low carbon energy and the
Performance of Buildings Directive parts ... that have been designed many more buildings within the potential not only to cut CO
2
currently requires new buildings, or altered to be used separately” directive’s scope. emissions, but also to create huge
major refurbishments and large – suggesting that a multi-part As expected, the draft also numbers of new jobs.”
public buildings in England and building would in future need only replaces the requirement that any The draft has already been sent
Wales to have a certificate to rate one EPC. public building bigger than 1,000m
2
to the Secretary of State for Energy
their energy performance. Hywel Davies, technical director would need an energy certificate. and Climate Change, Ed Miliband,
However, the latest draft changes of CIBSE, said this change would It now stiplulates that all public and is believed to have cross-party
to the directive, published online make it harder to get a meaningful buildings over 250m
2
need an support. CIBSE was also expected
last November, have “changed the rating for a multi-part building. energy certificate. to pledge its own support to the
definition of a building”, says one “This is a huge move away from The draft changes to the bill as the Journal went to press.
industry expert. measuring real energy usage to directive were due to be discussed The bill is expected to go
Under the existing rules, a influence real behaviour and make in Brussels this month, as CIBSE through to its second reading in
building that comprises several real energy savings,” he said. Journal was going to press. Parliament on 8 May.
www.cibsejournal.com February 2009 CIBSE Journal 7
CIBSEfeb09pp06-07 news•.indd 7 5/2/09 14:54:21
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