Display Energy Certificate

The purpose of introducing Display Energy Certificates (DECs) is to raise public awareness of energy use and to inform visitors to public buildings about the energy use of a building. DECs provide an energy rating of the building from A to G, where A is very efficient and G is the least efficient and are based on the actual amount of metered energy used by the building over a period of 12 months.

An organisation affected by this legislation must display a DEC in a prominent place clearly visible to the public and have in its possession or control a valid advisory report. The advisory report contains recommendations for improving the energy performance of the building.

Display Energy Certificates are only required for buildings with a total useful floor area over 1,000 square metres that are occupied by a Public Authority or Institution that provides a public service and is visited by a large number of people. The DEC is valid for one year and the accompanying Advisory Report is valid for seven years.