Although energy assessments have been available in the UK since the late 1980s it is only this year that they will become compulsory for most newly marketed residences (with limited exceptions) under legislation provided by the Housing Act 2004.  On 1^st August Home Inspection Packs (HIPs) were introduced for newly marketed residences in the UK with 4 or more bedrooms and HIPs will be rolled out for other properties throughout the rest of the year.  As a matter of policy, the Government has decided that Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are a mandatory element of HIPs.

The introduction of Energy Performance Certificates in the Housing Act legislation was in turn driven by the European Union Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) which became European Law when it was published in the Official Journal on the 4th January 2003. The principal objectives of the Directive are:

1. To improve the energy performance of buildings within the EU and hence reduce their carbon emissions;
2. To promote the convergence of building standards towards those of Member States which already have ambitious levels.

Measures include:

1. Methodology for calculating the energy performance of buildings;
2. Application of performance standards on new and existing buildings;
3. Certification schemes for all buildings;
4. Regular inspection and assessment of boilers/heating and cooling installations.

Each EU member state is required to transpose the Directive into law by the beginning of 2006 with a further three years being allowed for full implementation of specific articles.

The EU legislation was introduced as part of measures aimed to meet the EU’s Kyoto Protocol commitment to have reduced the emission of greenhouse gases by 8% by 2010 from 1990 levels. In the EU as a whole, buildings (domestic, public and commercial) account for approximately 40% of all energy consumption (source: DEFRA, 2002-3) and the introduction of EPCs will both raise awareness of the efficiency of dwellings (and in time other property types) and help tailor government policy towards the most effective carbon reduction strategies.

By January 2009, the Government in England and Wales will have introduced a number of measures aimed at helping to reduce the carbon emissions from buildings:

• Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) for buildings (only when sold, built or rented)
• Display Energy Certificates (DECs) for large public buildings - showing the actual energy usage of the building
• Inspections for air conditioning systems

As EPCs, DECs and Air Conditioning inspections must be done in an independent manner, all energy assessments must be done by a suitably qualified or experienced energy assessor who is a member of a Government-approved accreditation scheme. Energy Performance Certificates can only be produced by accredited Domestic Energy Assessors and Home Inspectors.