energyTEAM’s Display Energy Certificate rating improves

Our recent Display Energy Certificate (DEC) results show that Team House (Head Office of energyTEAM) has achieved an energy performance operational rating of ‘C’, indicating that the building is using energy efficiently and therefore reducing its carbon footprint and costs. energyTEAM’s operational rating has improved, going from a rating of 71 in 2013 to 66 in 2014.

As a private organisation, there is no legal requirement for energyTEAM to have a DEC produced. However, as an energy consultancy focused on energy efficiency, we voluntarily commissioned a DEC for our head office to help us to monitor our energy efficiency and to demonstrate our improvements to our stakeholders.

Some of the energy saving initiatives that energyTEAM have implemented at the Head Office are:

• Upgraded the boiler system to ‘eco-friendly’ boilers
• Draught proofed the office windows by using either double glazing or secondary glazing
• Installed cavity wall insulation in the office
• Improved staff awareness through regular energy updates and initiatives

DECs apply to any public organisation, whose building exceeds 500m². However, from 9^th July 2015 this threshold may be halved once again to include any building exceeding 250m². The main purpose of DECs are to raise public awareness of energy usage from public buildings. Any organisation affected must display their DEC in a noticeable area that is clearly visible to the public.

DECs provide an energy rating from A-G (A being most efficient and G being least efficient) and are accompanied by an advisory report created by an energy assessor. The DECs for buildings with a floor area of over 1,000m² are valid for 12 months and accompany advisory report is valid for 7 years. The DECs for buildings with a total useful floor use between 500m² and 1,000m² and accompany advisory report are both valid for 10 years.

The recent introduction of the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme legislation applies to large businesses throughout the UK and aims to identify energy savings opportunities. DECs have been confirmed as a possible route to compliance for the ESOS legislation, alongside the implementation of ISO 50001 and ESOS Compliant Energy Audits. However, as highlighted in the Department of Energy and Climate Change’s (DECC) guide, certificates would be required for each individual building meaning that this route may not be best suited to larger portfolios.