Green Construction Board to examine future of DECs

The new Green Construction Board will consider the future of the display energy certificates (DEC) scheme after it was dealt a blow by the government last month.

The certificates are in use in all public buildings to show how efficiently they use energy.

DECs had widespread industry support and - under May’s Carbon Plan - were expected to be rolled out to all commercial buildings. However, chancellor George Osborne blocked an amendment to the Energy Bill last month that would have allowed this to take place.

At the Green Construction Board’s inaugural meeting on Monday it was agreed that measurement of energy usage in construction and in completed buildings would form one of the core topics for the group, including consideration of a possible replacement for DECs.

Dan Labbad, co-chair of the group and chief executive of Lend Lease, told Building: “From my perspective measurement is key. If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it, as the old saying goes.

“One of the work streams will look at measurements and one of the areas of measurement is buildings in use, but it’s too early to say what it will look like.”

Business minister and co-chair Mark Prisk added: “We are not starting with an individual scheme. We are looking at what is the best way of approaching schemes like this.”

Prisk said the group would take a broad strategic approach to get policy and practice right in the long term, rather than focusing on short-term solutions to immediate problems.

The board will also have working groups focused on skills, information, procurement and infrastructure in the industry.

Labbad said he would make sure any policy changes were commercially viable.