This page explains the abbreviations and jargon used in regard to energy assessments.

                                                                        Jargon Buster

A Domestic Energy Assessment is a standardised method that has been devised so anybody can compare the energy efficiency of a domestic dwelling. It calculates from the information taken at the time of the assessment, the energy  required to heat the property, the hot water and for lighting, to a standard level regardless of occupancy. The assessment  assumes a standard heating level of 9 hours during the week and 18 hours at the weekend and a given temperature of 21°C in the living room and 18°C in all other rooms.  The figure calculated   between 1 to 100 is a measure of the cost for heating and lighting in £ per square metre, the higher the rating the lower the cost. A figure of 1 = £10/sq m/year or more and a figure of 100 means that the property has zero energy input. Most houses fall into a SAP band between 30 to 80 with a cost £/sq m ranging from £6.00 down to £1.60.

General:

Domestic:

Commercial:

The Reduced data Standard Assessment Procedure is the method that is used by all Domestic Energy Assessor to assess domestic property. This involves taking a number of measurements and making specific observations of the property. This will require access to the roof space, boiler, hot water cylinder, heating controls and all the rooms in the property.

New properties being purchased from a builder do not require a RdSAP by a Domestic Energy Assessor as a Full SAP will be supplied by the builder which has been calculated at the time of construction.

The Environmental Impact Rating (EIR) is produced from the information taken and it is a measure of how much Carbon Dioxide is produced annually from heating and lighting the property. Different fuels have a marked effect both on the SAP and the EIR rating. Mains gas has a lower cost and reduced Carbon Dioxide emission compared to heating with electricity.

Carbon Dioxide, chemical formula CO2, is a major by-product when fossil fuels are burnt. It is released to the atmosphere and is one of the greenhouse gases that is having an adverse environmental effect. Domestic energy consumption accounts for a third of all CO2 produced in the UK and the Government has a commitment to reduce Carbon Dioxide emissions by 60% by 2050.

A Domestic Energy Assessor or DEA for short, is licensed on behalf of the Government to undertake Domestic Energy Assessments and together with Home Inspectors, are the only people allowed to produce Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) for domestic property (other than new build). A DEA has to undergo specific and ongoing training and must meet a given standard before they are accredited. This ensures that all EPCs are of a given standard which allows houses to be compared easily with regard to their energy efficiency.

An Energy Performance Certificate or EPC is produced once all the data has been submitted by the Domestic Energy Assessor. The EPC is produced electronically using special standardised software, giving the current SAP rating together with the current Environmental Impact Rating (EIR). The software also produces a number of suggested measures which the property owner may wish to pursue, together with likely costs and what effect these measures will have on reducing energy costs, SAP and EIR ratings.

Once the EPC has been produced it is held on a central database run by Landmark, for and on behalf of the Government, with a copy of the certificate being sent to the person who requested the Energy Assessment. An EPC may not be older than a year when its details are included in a Home Information Pack.

Home Information Packs better know as HIPs, have been introduced by the Government and form part of The Housing Act 2004. The purpose of the HIP is to make the buying and selling of houses less traumatic. The seller must undertake to provide a set of standard information relating to the property, which must be freely available to the prospective purchaser and be included in the Estate Agent’s details.

The HIP must included:

           An Index (a list of the Pack’s contents).

           A sale statement (summarising terms of the sale).

           Evidence of Title.

           Standard searches (i.e. local authority, drainage and water).

           Commonhold information (where applicable).

           Leasehold information (where applicable).

           A New Homes’ Warranty (where applicable).

           An Energy Performance Certificate.

           A Home Condition Report, other searches, guarantees and warranties               may also be included but these are not mandatory.

SBEM is a computer program developed by the Buildings Research Establishment (BRE) that provides an analysis of a building's predicted energy consumption based on the structure, heating, ventilation, cooling and lighting systems of the building . The SBEM tool is designed to cover buildings that are not dwellings and has been adopted by government as part of the UK national calculation methodology (NCM) for calculating the energy performance of non domestic buildings. It is used to assess commercial buildings that are classed as being Level 3 and 4 buildings and to demonstrate compliance with Part L of the Building Regulations (in England and Wales).

Part L of the Building Regulations 2000 (in England and Wales.) are the regulations that new and refurbished buildings must meet in regard to conservation of fuel and power. Part 2LA covers new build whilst Part 2LB covers the required standard for refurbished buildings. It lays down insulation standards, plant and lighting efficiencies the building must meet, which came into effect on the 6th April 2006. A Commercial Energy Assessment must be undertaken to confirm that a building meets Part L of the UK Building Regulations.

A Non Domestic Energy Assessor, a NDEA for short, is licensed on behalf of the Government to undertake Commercial Energy Assessments and are the only people allowed to produce Non Domestic Energy Performance Certificates (NDEPCs) for both new and refurbished buildings. A NDEA has to undergo specific and ongoing training and must meet a given standard before they are accredited. This ensures that all NDEPCs are of a given standard and different buildings can be easily compared with regard to their energy efficiency.

A Display Energy Certificate, known as a DEC, is an Operational Rating of a building which shows the actual annual energy consumption and gives a comparative rating to the building.  Also shown on the DEC are the two previous years’ energy consumption and any power generated by Low or Zero Carbon technology (LZC). All government buildings larger than a 1000m² and regularly visited by the public must displayed a DEC in the public area of the building.