Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are now required for commercial properties throughout England and Wales. Faithful+Gould is assisting the region's developers, owners, purchasers and occupiers of buildings in understanding their effects and importance for the future.

From 1 October 2008, the marketing of commercial buildings will be prohibited unless an EPC has been obtained and, in the case of a new building, the builder will be required to have an EPC before the building control inspector issues a completion certificate.

Shaun Lunn, Director and Faithful+Gould's EPC expert, said: "As energy usage and carbon emissions are becoming key considerations on a tenant's agenda, EPCs will prove crucial in establishing the level of CO2 emissions from a property. Everyone in the property sector will be required to be more flexible in making improvements to meet user expectations and market demands to ensure the sale and re-letting of their premises."

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Approximately 50% of the UK's energy consumption arises from the heating, lighting and cooling of buildings.

Working on a scale of A (very efficient) to G (very inefficient), the EPC quantifies the energy efficiency and carbon emissions from a building and its services, including heating and air conditioning. Similar to schemes in place for domestic appliances, EPCs allow purchasers to compare performance in carbon emissions and factor this into their buying decision. It is intended that EPCs should perform the same function on the construction of new buildings and the sale or letting of existing buildings.

To meet the anticipated demand for EPCs, Faithful+Gould has created a core national team of Commercial Energy Assessors.

(CD/JM)