Energy Performance Certificate for Commercial Buildings? 

Posted: 26th February 2023

An Energy Performance Certificate rates the energy efficiency of a commercial building. It uses a grading system – A is the most efficient grade and G is the least efficient.

Your commercial building needs to have an Energy Performance Certificate if:

• you rent out or sell the premises
• a building under construction is finished
• there are changes to the number of parts used for separate occupation and the changes involve providing or extending fixed heating, air conditioning or mechanical ventilation systems.

You don’t need an Energy Performance Certificate if your commercial building is any of these:

• listed or officially protected and the minimum energy performance requirements would unacceptably alter it
• a temporary building only going to be used for 2 years or less
• used as a place of worship or for other religious activities
• an industrial site, workshop or non-residential agricultural building that doesn’t use much energy
• a detached building with a total floor space under 50 square metres
• due to be demolished by the seller or landlord and they have all the relevant planning and conservation consents.

For the full guidelines on Energy Performance Certificates for commercial buildings, visit the government’s website.

What are the minimum requirements for an Energy Performance Certificate for commercial buildings? 

From 1 April 2018, properties under new commercial leases needed an Energy Performance Certificate rating of at least ‘E’.

From 1 April 2023, the minimum requirement will be applied retrospectively. It will be an offence to continue to let a property that does not reach the minimum standard of ‘E’ (unless it’s exempt).

It is likely the minimum standards will become more strict over time as the UK works towards its target of net zero by 2050. At the moment, it seems the minimum standard for compliance will be band ‘B’ by 2030. Some estimates suggest that many commercial buildings will need to be upgraded to achieve this – one survey found that 80% of London’s office buildings are below band ‘B’.

How can you improve an Energy Performance Certificate for commercial buildings? 

If you need to improve the Energy Performance Certificate rating of your commercial building, you might be wondering what you can do.

One of the most effective ways to upgrade your commercial building’s energy performance is to upgrade its window and door systems.

Here at Mercury Glazing we specialise in commercial aluminium windows and doors that help to reduce energy loss and enhance the thermal performance of commercial buildings. We work closely with you from start to finish to ensure you invest in a glazing solution that upgrades your building’s thermal performance and enhances its aesthetics.

The Alitherm 300 Aluminium Window is an energy-efficient and elegant window that works well in commercial buildings of all types. The Alitherm Heritage 47 Aluminium Window provides excellent energy efficiency without compromising on period aesthetics. The Aluminium Sliding Sash Window helps to preserve historic characteristics and style while upgrading thermal performance. We also supply a wide range of commercial doors suitable for all types of project from offices to shopfronts.

Adding value by upgrading the Energy Performance Certificate rating for commercial buildings 

Clearly, there is a cost associated with investing in new window and door systems for your commercial building. However, the investment will reap rewards. Most importantly, it will help to make sure you are compliant with the new regulations so you can continue to let your commercial building. It will also enhance your commercial building’s value, which will affect how much rent you can charge or how much the building is worth when you want to sell it.

If you’d like to discuss the glazing solutions that could help you upgrade the thermal performance of your commercial building, get in touch today.