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The 2008 roll-out of Energy Performance Certificates to the non-domestic sector has been driven by the UK's commitment to climate change. The introduction has also provided facilities managers with a new service to offer and created a fresh career direction for professionals in the property world.
Richard Foxwell, Head of Special Projects at Asset Skills, explains.
The job of energy assessor was created as a result of the European Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), new legislation requiring properties to be graded on their green credentials.
Asset Skills was tasked with promoting and ensuring awareness of the new law and in publicising the role of the first wave of energy assessors, the Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA). We hosted a number of information events across the UK, many of which were oversubscribed due to the demand for information.
In 2007 the profession came into force, at first to grade four-bedroomed houses being marketed for sale.
Domestic Energy Assessors produced Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) as part of the Home Information Pack (HIP) requirements.
In 2008 the EPBD was rolled out in phases, first to commercial premises and later to the lettings sector. This brought about the need for Non-Domestic Energy Assessors with a wider remit than the DEA.
And Asset Skills was again tasked with promoting this and ensuring the industry was prepared.
Part of the roll out means from October 2008 public buildings like hospitals, schools and libraries must show Display Energy Certificates (DECs) which show how energy efficient the building is.
It's not just the property industry that will be affected. DECs will also impact heavily on facilities managers, who often have responsibility for ensuring businesses comply with building regulations.
To carry out an assessment of a building, an energy assessor must be accredited by a scheme that's been approved by Communities and Local Government (CLG).
To become accredited, the individual must either have a qualification or prove they have the appropriate knowledge as defined by the National Occupational Standards (NOS).
NOS have been developed by Asset Skills in consultation with stakeholders and technical experts for the different strands of energy assessment.
These include domestic, construction, non-domestic, operational rating and air conditioning (inspection of air conditioning systems will begin in 2009 and by 2011, all systems over 12kW will be required to have a five-yearly inspection).
We worked closely with CLG to ensure that appropriate qualifications are based on the NOS. There is also a framework within which applicants can become accredited called APEL - Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning.
This accreditation method is for people who already have the skills to do the job and just need some extra training for additional knowledge.
The job of the energy assessor involves collecting or receiving information on a property - like details of its dimensions, construction and services.
The information is then inputted into a software program and the EPC or DEC is generated.
Depending on the size of the FM business and how many buildings it manages, a facilities manager might use their own everyday staff to collect data and then sub-contract the rest of the work to an assessor.
Or, a facilities manager might employ roving energy assessors to pick up data from different buildings.
For buildings that are let or sold, once a certificate has been produced a facilities manager can expect that it will throw up recommendations for actions to improve the building's rating.
FMs will therefore become more interested in energy ratings as they will partly become responsible for energy usage and have the opportunity to influence further actions in the building.
Combating climate change presents a huge challenge to the property sector and the roll-out of EPCs is part of the process of making people aware.
While an EPC might not necessarily influence someone in their decision right now, it is sure to do so in the future. EPCs will become a factor for comparison when businesses are looking to let a property.
People will start to think about energy efficiency when they come to modify their buildings and realise improvements to their buildings will bring reduced energy bills and, in the long-term, more profits.
National Occupational Standards (NOS) define the skills and knowledge required to join an accreditation scheme and become licensed to practise as an energy assessor.
There are opportunities to be accredited as more than one type of energy assessor.
Being accredited means being fit and proper, qualified and having the relevant insurance.
On applying, candidates must either possess an approved qualification or demonstrate to the accreditation scheme that they come under the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) category (see below).
Awarding bodies
An approved energy assessment qualification can be obtained from one of three awarding bodies:
APEL (Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning) is aimed at candidates with previous experience in energy assessment or who have a prior qualification of a different nature that has equipped them to do the job.
Candidates must submit EPCs or DECs for assessment as evidence of their competence and a candidate's qualifications will be checked against NOS.
The following accreditation schemes have been approved by CLG to accredit non-domestic energy assessors and those producing DECs:
For more details visit www.energy-assessors.org.uk