Schools 'could do better' on EPC ratings

20 May 2009

Details of Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) awarded to new schools show that most school buildings are not performing sustainably.

This report is sourced from the BSRIA Website: http://www.bsria.co.uk/news/epc-schools

More than half of new schools obliged to report their energy performance via an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) are falling into the lower bands for asset efficiency, writes Roderic Bunn. In response to a parliamentary question tabled by shadow climate change minister Gregory Barker, the schools minister Jim Knight revealed that 28 secondary schools and 64 primary schools had EPCs at the end of 2008. Of those 92 schools only 43 have performed in bands A-C (see table).

From October 2008 all public buildings with a floor area greater than 1000 sq m are required to have an annual Display Energy Certificate (DEC) showing their energy performance. This obliges new schools built under Building Schools for the Future programme to have an EPC. This has to be followed by a DEC once 12 months energy data is available. The certificate has to be publicly visible. Existing schools which are refurbished will also need to publicise their DEC ratings.

School buildings will require an Advisory Report providing recommendations for energy improvements each seven years.

Contact Details and Archive...

• BSRIA

Print this page | E-mail this page

E-mail this page

Your name :
Recipient name :
Recipient e-mail :
Enter the code shown :