Since the prices for energy will definitely increase in the future, energy saving and cost reduction have become more relevant than ever. Although investments in energy saving measures have not been a priority so far, the long term benefits of such measures should be taken into consideration. Energy improvement measures can have as an outcome important savings and they can stop energy costs from growing. This is why the epc is necessary, not only for commercial buildings but for all house owners.

Although the epc is the best way of saving energy and cleaning the air, there are people who consider it a costly piece of legislation. The first epc was first issued for family dwellings in October 2008 and afterwards it expanded to property managers and owners of residential properties when bought, sold, built or rented. As a consequence homeowners, homebuilders, landlords and commercial buildings are required by law to have an epc in the above mentioned situation.

Irrespective of its cost, the first major benefit of the epc is the fact that besides saving money on fuel bills, epcs will also cut the amount of CO2 released in our environment. As far as homeowners are concerned, the epc is an indicator of the best way you can reduce your energy bills and for bringing your property to an energy efficient standard. Internal or external insulation solutions are often recommended for those with high energy costs.

Furthermore, due to the epcs, energy companies are asked to provide grants for homeowners in order to install cavity wall and loft insulation. Besides these grants, the government has also introduced tax incentives in order to encourage landlords to install energy efficiency measures. If you are interested in a commercial epc, you can apply for one and ask an energy assessor to help you.

The commercial epc has become a must for commercial premises because potential buyers and tenants are entitled to an impartial overview of energy use and energy costs of the building and because the epcs will tell sellers and landlords where there's room for energy improvement as far as their properties are concerned. Such a certificate is valid around ten years, being not only a mandatory requirement but also a highly effective measure.

The commercial epc enables investors and occupiers to compare the energy efficiency of buildings and to make their decisions after they have seen the epc. Due to the commercial epc, the commercial property sector will benefit from: a visible, quantifiable and mandatory energy performance certificate and an accurate comparison of energy efficiency of several commercial properties. These factors should change the perspective of the ones who invest in commercial properties due to the costs of utility which service those buildings.

The commercial epc can be given only by qualified non domestic assessors who are accredited. This certificate will be required upon construction, sale or lease for all non-dwellings, including retail units, office, industrial units, commercial buildings, warehouses, supermarkets and houses in multiple occupations. In order to receive such a certificate you will need to divulge the following information: floor plans in digital format, elevations and roof plans, details of the building's construction and details for the building services elements.