What to Expect with a Technical Survey of your Energy Solutions

The UK Government is dedicated to the continuous improvement of energy efficiency in commercial premises across the country. Every business has to comply with the current regulations that apply which we will take a look at later in this article. In order to comply, businesses need to be aware of their current position with regards to energy efficiency in their premises.

This is one reason why it makes sense to have a professional energy survey carried out. Of course, the results of this survey can also benefit a business by providing suggestions of energy saving solutions which help to reduce expenditure.

Complying with current energy efficiency regulations

Any UK business that employs 250 people or more, or has an annual turnover of 50 million euro (£38,937,777), and an annual balance sheet total of 43 million euro (£33,486,489) or more, has to comply with Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) rules. These rules were introduced as a result of Article 8 (4 to 6) of the EU Energy Efficiency Directive (2012/27/EU). The government provides advice on how to comply with ESOS.

Business premises that are newly built, or about to be rented or sold, need to have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) in place. This certificate is completed by a qualified assessor who has carried out a full energy survey of the property.

EPC survey what happens?

The EPC survey includes inspection of:

• Radiators
• Boilers
• Double glazing
• Insulation
• CO2 emissions.

Once the survey has been completed, the assessor compiles the certificate for the business. The EPC includes an energy performance rating for the property. Potential ratings range from A-G, with A being the highest and G the lowest. Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards were introduced in April 2018, making it illegal for a premises with a rating of F or G to be rented out, so it’s vital for landlords of commercial premises to understand what the current energy efficiency rating for the property is.

The EPC also provides advice about making energy efficiency improvements. This is vital information for any business that wants to reduce running costs as much as possible. The government is dedicated to the ongoing success of the EPC scheme and is currently seeking evidence from property owners, estate agents and assessors as part of an ongoing review.

Energy surveys aside from the EPC

Even if a commercial premises is not legally required to have an EPC in place, it’s still possible to have one completed. There are also other technical energy surveys available which can specifically look at potential for implementing energy efficiency solutions such as Smart technology and solar power. Given the global need to preserve energy as much as possible, it makes sense for every business to have as much information about its energy efficiency levels as possible.

Why a technical energy survey is a good idea for businesses

Aside from the need to meet regulatory requirements, there are other reasons why it makes sense to have an energy survey completed for a commercial premises.

Assumptions may be incorrect

Many business owners assume that everything is fine with their commercial premises, until something goes wrong. They may believe that the heating system is working effectively or that the insulation in their premises is still working as it should. These are topics that business owners probably do not pay attention to on a regular basis, so they make assumptions and put them to the back of their mind. Having a survey completed helps them to check the accuracy of their assumptions and can help save money in the long term, if there are any issues they are not aware of.

Protection of budgets is important

Any business, especially SMEs, cannot afford to waste money. If the energy efficiency of a premises is not as it should be, this is exactly what could be happening. The recommendations that result from an energy survey can help any business to make money saving changes.

Brand reputation can be protected

We live in a world where global warming is a regular cause for concern. If the CO2 emissions from a business premises are high, this may not reflect well on brand reputation. Knowing that there is a problem means that changes can be made to address the issue and reduce emissions.

A technical energy survey is not intrusive, whether it’s part of the EPC process or not. It’s simply a means of establishing the current energy efficiency performance of a premises and making suggestions for improvement.