Compliance Guide

What is a Display Energy Certificate (DEC)?

A Display Energy Certificate provides a building with an energy rating from A to G, where A represents the most energy-efficient buildings and G the least efficient. The rating is based on the actual metered energy consumption of the building over the past 12 months. For comparison, the DEC also includes ratings from the two previous years.

A DEC must be displayed in a prominent location within any public building or section of a building used by a public authority with a total usable floor area exceeding 250 m². This includes all enclosed spaces measured to the internal face of the external walls, such as staircases and galleries.
More details can be found here.

Each DEC is accompanied by a Recommendation Report, which provides practical, cost-effective suggestions to improve the energy efficiency of the building. These recommendations focus on actions that can help reduce energy consumption, lower CO2 emissions, and improve overall energy management. The report serves as a guide for building occupiers to identify steps they can take to enhance energy performance and reduce operational costs.

Recommendation Report

Legal Compliance and Penalties

It is important to display the DEC at all times in a location clearly visible to the public. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in penalties:

• A penalty charge of £500 for failing to display the DEC prominently.

• A penalty charge of £1,000 for failing to possess or have control of a valid Recommendation Report.

In addition to these fines, the building will still be required to commission the necessary documentation to ensure full compliance.

What is a TM44 Air Conditioning Report

An air conditioning system inspection by an accredited air conditioning energy assessor is designed to improve efficiency, reduce energy consumption, reduce operating costs and reduce carbon emissions. The energy assessor will highlight how the operation of existing systems can be improved or opportunities to replace older, less energy efficient systems, or over sized systems, with new energy efficient systems.
More details can be found here.

What is ESOS

ESOS is a mandatory energy assessment scheme for organisations in the UK that meet the qualification criteria. The Environment Agency is the UK scheme administrator.

Organisations that qualify for ESOS must carry out ESOS assessments every 4 years. These assessments are audits of the energy used by their buildings, industrial processes and transport.
More details can be found here.