The "greenest government ever" has seemingly dropped the requirement for commercial properties to show Display Energy Certificates (DECs) which will cost the construction industry millions in lost work for the upgrade of commercial buildings believes Jennifer Chappell, property lawyer at Bircham Dyson Bell LLP.
"It's one of the biggest U turns I've seen in a while, and one that really will cost the industry dear," explains Jennifer Chappell.
"The DECs provide relevant energy saving information about the building and where they may fall short of standards; the industry would have worked to upgrade commercial buildings so that they met requirements. It is already mandatory for DECs to be displayed in public buildings, such as museums and libraries. This gives an idea of the energy performance of public buildings and encourages improved energy use. The idea was always that DECs would be moved across into commercial properties so that all buildings have to display a comparable rating on a scale from A to G.
"Without making DECs mandatory in the commercial sector, there will be no real incentive to improve the energy efficiency of commercial buildings - and since the original deadline set by the Government to implement them was scheduled for October 2012, we're always twelve months away from any implemented legislation, now that it's been put on the back burner.
"I think it's a massive oversight, not least in terms of lost business to the industry and the economy, but also in terms of lost 'public relations' and the opportunity to increase awareness of energy use and energy efficiency in commercial buildings. The more people that see them, the more we become energy aware."
"It's a cowardly move by the supposed 'greenest government ever' to back track, particularly when the property industry is in favour of DECs."
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