The 160 million buildings in the European Community use over 40% of Europe’s energy and create over 40% of its carbon emissions and that proportion is increasing. Under the Kyoto protocol, Europe is committed to reducing emissions and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) is intended to contribute to achieving this. Article 3 of the Directive required governments of member states to apply a methodology which calculates the energy performance of buildings. While article 4 states that minimum energy performance requirements must be based on the calculation methodology and article 5 requires that all new buildings meet the minimum energy performance requirements. Article 7 requires that whenever a building is constructed, sold or rented out, a certificate detailing its energy performance must be made available.

In the UK the requirements of the Directive as they apply to new buildings other than dwellings is implemented through Approved Document L2A of the Building Regulations 2006 edition. Regulations 17A, 17B, 17C and 17E implement articles 3 and 4 by requiring that the National Calculation Methodology (NCM) be used to calculate a Target Carbon Dioxide Emission Rate (TER).

To comply with the regulations a new building as designed and as constructed must achieve a Building Emission Rate BER, calculated using the same methodology, which is less than the TER.

The TER and BER must be calculated using one of the approved calculation tools in the NCM. Those tools include:

a) The Simplified Building Energy Model (SBEM) for those buildings whose design features are capable of being adequately modelled by SBEM; or

b) Other approved software tools.

Whatever tool is used the output required for Building Control is a SBEM BRUKL output document to show compliance with the Approved Document Part L. Slightly different regulations apply in England and Wales than in Scotland or Northern Ireland.

CLG Schedule 

From 6 April 2008 an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) will be required on construction, sale or rent for buildings other than dwellings with a floor area over 10,000m2. Form 1 July 2008 EPCs will also be required for buildings other than dwellings with a floor area over 2,500m2 and from 1 October 2008 this will extend to all remaining buildings other than dwellings.

See http://www.communities.gov.uk/planningandbuilding/theenvironment/energyperformance/whenmeasures/

for full details.