Energy consultancy Carbon2018 held its inaugural Energy Legislation Forum last week, bringing together senior executives from energy, property, facilities management and finance to discuss, debate and influence energy legislation in the UK.
Topics explored included Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), Display Energy Certificates (DECs), Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), Electricity Market Reform and the de-aggregation of gas.
Melanie Kendall Reid, director of Compliance, Carbon2018 said: “We are frequently faced with new legislative requirements that are constructed by government departments that do not understand the complexities of multi let properties and the landlord tenant relationship. Our Forum’s aim is to capture these at the consultation stage, offer a setting where any potential issues can be debated and provide comprehensive feedback to shape future requirements incorporating the needs of our clients.”
Chris Smith, technical manager at the National Measurement Office (NMO) also joined the forum to address questions specifically relating to the Heat Network Regulations (HNR) that came into force in December 2014.
He made it very clear that the NMO viewed its role in a support and guidance capacity rather than purely compliance.
The main concerns flagged were around feasibility studies that are not currently statutory so tenants can refuse to pay for them under the terms of their lease. The general feeling was if the feasibility studies were part of the statutory requirement this could be recharged to tenants.
Other key points raised and submitted to government included EPCs and DECs.
There is a place in the market for both accreditations however the assessments be incorporated which would paint a valuable picture of the building fabric and performance. Substituting DECs for EPCs will only enforce a requirement to measure the potential of the building’s energy performance – not the behaviour of its users.
The forum said that current energy legislation focuses on measuring usage and assessing the capability of buildings rather than any statutory requirement to reduce energy – this focus needs to change if the UK is to meet its 2050 climate change target.
The group also looked at electricity market reform and de-aggregation of gas and the Renewable Heat Incentive.
The final point made during the forum was legislation is only worthwhile if it delivers on what it intended and therefore it should be reviewed on a regular basis.