Obtaining a commercial energy performance certificate in Glasgow is essential for those involved in the building and construction industry. The certificate is a measure of an organisation’s compliance with certain energy efficiency rules, which is undertaken to promote environmental responsibility and to provide consumers with knowledge of how much energy their businesses are consuming. If your business consumes more electricity than is allowed by regulations, you could be fined or receive other penalties, so it is in everyone’s best interests to ensure that they meet the allowances. If you are a landlord with an apartment building, or if you have a pub, shopping centre or other commercial property, you could be held to a certain standard of efficiency.
It may seem an obvious requirement to get a commercial energy performance certificate when purchasing or leasing premises, but it isn’t actually the only one. There are numerous other criteria, some connected to the environment and others related to safety and security. For example, you might have to ensure that the building is compliant with local noise limits or with the planned use of electricity. You might also have to ensure that certain standards of heating and air conditioning are maintained, and you might also need to check that your heating and cooling systems are working according to regulation.
It can feel overwhelming trying to keep abreast of regulations related to commercial energy efficiency and regulation. It can even feel overwhelming dealing with an inspector’s inquiries about what you must have done to achieve an excellent rating. But there are resources available to help you understand and pass the necessary tests. These resources include the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) – Glasgow website, which is a free, comprehensive source of information; the Scottish Power energy performance register, which provide an analysis of your current energy efficiency; and the British Gas energy efficiency rating system, which are administered by the British Gas energy supplier.
It is possible to be both environmentally responsible and highly efficient, but only if you choose the right type of commercial energy performance certificate for your business. For those businesses that do not require EPC ratings, the best way to get them is to work with a commercial energy audit firm. In these cases, the company will identify areas of your operation that are costing you money and points that could be improved in efficiency. This sort of analysis requires a great deal of hard work on your part and sometimes upfront fees are due. However, when these fees are paid, the results can dramatically improve your company’s profitability and lessen its impact on the environment. And the best part is these initial costs are almost always refundable.
If your company has already achieved an excellent rating, you may still want to consider improving your ratings. The reasons for this are many and varied. The most common reason for this is to become more competitive. A commercial energy performance certificate from a competing energy provider could cause your energy bill to rise. On the other hand, if you agree to an audit conducted by a professional commercial energy auditor, you will likely receive a much better rating than you currently have. These professionals know what questions to ask and how to properly document their findings to help your company obtain its optimal level of energy efficiency.
Not every commercial energy performance certificate is necessary for your business, though. Many companies simply do not need to obtain a commercial energy performance certificate. If your business does not require EPC certificates, it is important to remember that your company’s benefits are not solely limited to profits and lower energy bills. Aside from helping your company save money in the long run, it can also help to strengthen your reputation among customers and other stakeholders.
When obtaining a commercial energy performance certificate, there are a few steps involved in order to ensure that you are compliant with all of the regulations set forth by your commercial energy auditor. First of all, you must meet all of the criteria set forth by your commercial energy audit. Next, you must submit a proposal outlining exactly how you plan to reach your desired levels of energy savings. Lastly, you will be tested to see if you are on track to achieving these levels of savings. As long as you pass all three of these steps, your commercial energy audit should come back green. If not, you may still want to work with a commercial energy audit consultant just to make sure you are doing everything possible to achieve a high level of energy efficiency in your facility.
Before your commercial energy performance certificate expires, you will be required to submit an updated analysis of your energy-efficiency levels. This time around, the professional you choose to perform the audit must prepare a report that highlights the areas that need to be improved upon the most. Your report should also contain recommendations as to how to make the improvements. Once the certificate has expired, your energy audit firm will be the one to inform the relevant authorities. They will then make the necessary changes to your building, and if all goes well, your commercial energy performance certificate will be renewed. If not, you will need to start all over again.