Better Prepared are EPC assessors for commercial properties to Level 4.

As with houses, an EPC will be required whenever a building is constructed, sold or rented out. However, in the case of commercial properties, they do not provide an element in any legal equivalent to the Home Information Pack. EPC's for commercial properties, offices, factories etc., are currently being phased in. All properties will need one if let, sold or modified, after 1st October.

Following an examination of the property, plans and other relevant information provided by the property owner, the assessor will issue a certificate which classifies a building based on its annual CO2 emissions per unit floor area. The results are presented in a similar fashion to the way that white goods, vehicles etc. are currently banded where A is the best and G the worst.

The EPC covers various aspects of a building, including the following…

• Insulation of walls, floors and roof structures
• Type and efficiency of heating systems for water and space
• Air conditioning
• Thermal efficiency of windows and doors

The certificate includes a series of recommended improvements to the property, designed to improve energy performance and save money on fuel bills. Typical recommendations range from insulating walls or roofs through to improvements in heating systems and their controls or lighting systems.

Commercial building owners or their advisers, can learn more about the Energy Performance Certificate by contacting the Better Prepared team.