DEC for
Public Buildings
Responsible for a public building? Ensure compliance with energy regulations. Get your DEC today. Our experts will guide you through the process, from assessment to certification.
Requirements for Public Buildings in England, Wales & Northern Ireland
A Display Energy Certificate (DEC) and its accompanying Advisory Report are mandatory for all public buildings in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. For a building to require a DEC, it must:
- Be partially occupied by a public authority (e.g., council, leisure centre, college, NHS trust)
- Have a total floor area exceeding 250 square metres
- Be regularly visited by the public
A DEC must be clearly displayed in a prominent location where it is visible to the public (Government guidelines also state that it should be no smaller than A3 size). Failing to have a DEC or its accompanying advisory report could result in a financial penalty.
The validity of a DEC depends on the total useful floor area of the building. For buildings larger than 1,000m², the DEC is valid for 1 year (with the advisory report valid for 7 years). For buildings between 250m² and 1,000m², both the DEC and advisory report are valid for 10 years.
Requirements for Public Buildings in Scotland
In Scotland, Public Buildings are not legally required to have a DEC, as is the case in some other areas. However, getting one can still be beneficial, as it offers a better understanding of energy consumption and can help support efforts to improve the building’s energy efficiency.
If the building is occupied by public authorities, covers an area of 500m² or more, and is regularly visited by the public, the building owner must obtain and display a Non-Domestic Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).
The EPC will remain valid for 10 years and must be renewed as soon as the 10-year period expires.
What is a Display Energy Certificate (DEC)?
A Display Energy Certificate (DEC) provides information on the energy consumption and carbon emissions of a public building.
The DEC displays the building’s energy performance on a scale from ‘A’ to ‘G’, with ‘A’ representing the highest efficiency (low CO2 emissions) and ‘G’ indicating the lowest efficiency (high CO2 emissions).
Along with the DEC, an Advisory Report is also provided. This report includes recommendations for improving the building’s energy performance.
How Do I Find an Existing DEC?
Finding an existing DEC is simple, just search for the postcode on the following sites:
Building in England, Wales or NI:https://www.gov.uk/find-energy-certificate
Building in Scotland: https://www.scottishepcregister.org.uk/
After locating the building’s Display Energy Certificate, you can print a copy by selecting the ‘print’ option on the left, which can then be displayed in the building.
Understanding a Display Energy Certificate
There are 5 key sections to understand on a DEC, these are as follows:
On all DEC certificates you will see:
- The building’s address information
- Certificate expiry date
- The Certificate number
- Assessor and accreditation scheme details
Energy Performance Operational Rating:
- The energy performance operational rating will be shown as a letter at the top of the DEC and displayed on the coloured A to G scale. This rating is based on the actual energy consumption recorded over the past 12 months within the DEC's validity period.
- After the DEC Assessor’s calculation, a numerical score is assigned to the building, representing its actual annual carbon dioxide emissions. This score is then placed on a scale from A (lowest emissions) to G (highest emissions). A typical public building usually scores around 100, which corresponds to an operational rating of D.
- You can also view past operational ratings for the building.
Building Energy Usage:
This section compares the building’s energy consumption to the typical energy use of a public building. The data is presented as an annual figure in kilowatt hours per m². It provides details on energy usage from electricity and other fuels, as well as the percentage derived from renewable sources.
Total CO2 Emissions:
This section displays the amount of carbon dioxide the building produces through electricity, heating and renewables in a year. It is shown in tonnes of CO2 and also shows a comparison with totals from previous years.
Recommendations Report:
A DEC will be accompanied by an online Advisory/Recommendation report, which highlights valuable suggestions for enhancing the building’s energy performance. These recommendations may include operational and management improvements, along with the installation of low or zero carbon technologies.
What is Involved in a DEC Assessment?
An accredited DEC Assessor will be able to provide a valid assessment of a public building. The assessment itself is carried out on site as the assessor will need to collect the following information:
- building dimensions
- energy meter readings
- building energy services
This information will be inputted into an approved software, which will produce the certificate and advisory report for the building. Following completion, your certificate and advisory report will be available to view online (a link to this should be emailed to you by your assessor). You can also print your certificate as required.
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