Energy Performance Certificate delay

The Department for Communities and Local Government website now states that only buildings with a floor area of more than 10,000 m2 will require EPCs in April 2008, rather than all buildings of 500 m2 or more, as originally planned.

The time table adds that as of 1 July 2008 all buildings of 2500 m2 and over will require an EPC but buildings below 10,000 m2 will not need one until October 2008.

Brian Berry, director of external affairs for the Federation of Master Builders, has slammed the government’s decision to delay the introduction of Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) for public and commercial buildings.

“The six months postponement raises the question about whether the government is really serious about achieving its target to cut Britain’s carbon emissions by 60% by 2050,” he said. “To look at its recent action one could only conclude that they are not. The latest u-turn will only add to the mounting confusion surrounding the government’s environmental policies.”

Only last week the government back-tracked on its targets for renewable energy and Berry highlighted the fact that this latest climb-down was released ‘quietly’ via the departmental website, rather than in a public announcement.