Climate Change

What is Kyoto? The Kyoto Protocol was struck in 1997 in Kyoto, Japan, when member nations of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change agreed that developed countries must reduce their emissions of six greenhouse gases to meet the overall target The UK commitment is to reduce carbon emissions to 80% by 2050 European & EU Legislation Member States of the European Union adopt Directives and Regulations. European Directives require member states to implement their provisions nationally – for energy issues following on from Kyoto, this is called the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). About 50% of Carbon Dioxide emissions come from Buildings (30% dwellings, 20% commercial)

WHO’S WHO IN OUR BUSINESS? Communities and Local Government (CLG) – Following the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive(EPBD) from Kyoto requires member states to produce an Energy Performance Certificate for all buildings – CLG is the REGULATOR whose role is to implement Parliamentary law and regulations from the EPBD – To conserve fuel and power to reduce carbon emissions – Develops Building Regulations in various parts – Using the building envelope and insulation as the main criteria – Implement Part L regulations via Building Regulations – Part L1B specify the requirement for EPCs

Building Regulations Approved Documents Part A - Structure Part B - Fire safety Part C - Site preparation and resistance to moisture Part D - Toxic substances Part E - Resistance to the passage of sound Part F - Ventilation Part G - Hygiene Part H - Drainage and waste disposal Part J - Combustion appliances and fuel storage systems Part K - Protection from falling, collision and impact Part L - Conservation of fuel and power Part M - Access to and use of buildings Part N - Glazing - safety in relation to impact, opening and cleaning Part P - Electrical safety

When is an EPC required 1 Sale of property Residential property ‘put on sale’ when first known in the public domain ‘first point of marketing’ as the point at which a duty to have An EPC first arises within 7 days Person responsible for marketing property can be seller or person acting as estate agent Where a person is acting as an estate agent and is not the responsible person, the seller is responsible New Builds and Conversions New build proposals that are ‘off-plan’ and not yet built properties require a SAP report (standard assessment procedure) This requires a different qualification

When is an EPC required 2 For Rental properties and Holiday dwellings EPCs are required when a property is first available for rent Conversions and changes to dwellings where planning permission is required, an EPC or SAP report may be required by the planning control officer If a property or conversion has been completed then an EPC is required 5 days after completion If a property is let out as a holiday let for more than 4 months of the year then a rental EPC is required – this does not have be 4 consecutive periods, can be over the whole year (what is a year?, assume financial year)

EPC for Green Deal Finance To be able to access the new Government initiative starting in October 2012, Green Deal Participants will require a new version EPC available from April 2012 DEAs will need to undertake an upgrade course for 1 day to be able to issues EPCs after April 2012 as the new EPC will be linked to the Green Deal.

Circumstances when an EPC is not required When a property is due to be demolished When a property is of temporary use of less than 2 years –such as a caravan, portacabin, holiday home Places of worship When a property possesses a health and safety risk 1. Multi-residential properties ◦ This includes, for example, nursing homes, student accommodation 2. Flats, Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and Sheltered Accommodation Commercial properties require a Commercial or Non-Domestic EPC