In July of this year, the government declared its intent to change current ESOS legislation.  If the changes are accepted after going through the parliamentary process, some will come into force before the Phase 3 compliance deadline which you can learn more about in our previous blog here, but in today’s blog, we will discuss those which may come into force before phase 4.

ESOS legislation was first introduced in 2014 as a way for large companies to audit their estates and establish opportunities, for saving energy.

ESOS legislation applies to your organisation if:

• You employ more than 250 employees
• Has an annual turnover of more than £44 million or an annual balance sheet total of more than £38 million
• You are within a corporate group where an organisation within the group qualifies for ESOS

Although the qualification date for Phase 4 is not until the 31^st of December 2026, the changes to Phase 4 will include:

Display Energy Certificates (DECs) and Green Deal Assessments will no longer be included as a route to compliance.

When ESOS was first introduced there were many compliance routes that could be included within an ESOS submission, including DECs and Green Deal Assessments. Under the new changes, DECs and Green Deal Assessments will no longer be accepted as compliance routes.

Including Net Zero Plans in ESOS submissions.

Previous ESOS cycles focused on energy efficiency, but future ESOS cycles will focus on both energy efficiency and Net Zero. Although the government has yet to decide how Net Zero plans will be presented in ESOS submissions we expected further information to be released in due course. It is anticipated that the Net Zero plans could include information on any potential risks to businesses from moving to Net Zero.

The use of existing auditing standards such as ISO 50002 or EN 16247.

Currently, there is no requirement to use an auditing standard within ESOS submissions however, from Phase 4 the introduction of using an established auditing standard such as ISO 5002 or EN 16247 will be introduced to be included within the ESOS submission.

Becoming more aligned with SECR legislation.

After Phase 4, the ESOS qualification benchmarks will change to align more with SECR legislation. If organisations fall into the scope of having at least 250 employees, a balance sheet of at least £18 million or a turnover of at least £36 million, then they will have to submit an ESOS submission.

How Can We Help?

Compliance365 recognises that changes to established legislation can be confusing to organisations, but we are here to help, if you would like to read more about ESOS then click here to read our dedicated page on ESOS.

If you would like help understanding the changes to ESOS better then get in touch at 01924 669940 or e-mail sales@compliance365.co.uk and speak to one of our highly experienced ESOS experts.

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Although Compliance365 offers a number of energy consultancy services, an Energy Audit is one of our most in-depth reports. An Energy Audit can offer more thorough information on how energy-efficient a building is and identify areas of high energy consumption.

The main aim of an energy audit is to underline the potential behavioural changes that will reduce a property’s energy consumption. From these reports, energy savings can then be calculated alongside budgetary costs and the payback period.

Although carrying out an energy audit on a property is not a legal requirement, there can be numerous benefits to you including:

Providing an accurate picture of how energy efficient your property is

When completing an energy audit, we follow a methodology that includes conducting a detailed property survey. This allows us to identify the current state of the property and how energy is currently consumed, along with the property’s efficiency.

Our established methodology allows our energy consultants to capture and document the building features precisely, enabling the most accurate analysis. Through completing this survey, we identify the best energy-saving opportunities available to that property.

Receiving tailored recommendations for your property

You may be wondering how recommendations from an Energy Audit differ from recommendations found in EPCs and DECs. Recommendations found within EPCs and DECs are generic whereas Energy audits are tailored bespoke to the property and will include more specific recommendations.

Recommendations within Energy Audits include estimated annual savings, the payback years, and the approximate cost of carrying out the recommendations.

You may see a reduction in energy bills

If you were to undertake the recommendations from an energy audit then you may see a reduction in your energy bills.

How can we help?

If you would like more information about our energy audits or have any questions about our energy-audit services, you can get in touch with our experienced team on 01924 669940 or send us an email at sales@compliance365.co.uk.

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ESOS is a UK legislation which mandates organisations to audit their estates and establish opportunities for saving energy.

In July of this year, the government declared its intent to make changes to current ESOS legislation.  If the changes are accepted after going through the parliamentary process, they will come into force before the Phase 3 compliance deadline of the 5^th of December 2023.

ESOS applies to your organisation if:

• You employ more than 250 employees
• You are within a corporate group where an organisation within the group qualifies for ESOS

At present, the thresholds are set in euros and applies to organisations if they have a turnover and balance sheet exceeding €50 million and €43 million. If the government’s intentions are successful, then the thresholds will change from € to GBP, and apply to organisations that have a turnover and balance sheet exceeding £44 million and £38 million.

The government also intend to make changes that include:

The addition of compliance data

Currently, there is a wide range of energy auditing methods used when reporting ESOS, as no set standards or requirements are in place. This means current reports vary in consistency and quality. If the government changes are accepted, then ESOS reports will have to include a standard template that includes compliance information and data.

The reduction in the De Minimis exemption

At present, the De Minimis is set at 10% meaning that organisations can exclude 10% of their total energy consumption through the De Minimis exemption.

If the government are successful in changing the legislation, then the De Minimis exemption would change from 10% to 5%, meaning that organisations may have to audit additional sites from their estate.

Adding an energy intensity metric to reports

If proposed changes are agreed upon, then the addition of a comparable energy intensity metric will have to be included in the report.

A comparable energy metric is a way of fairly comparing one site to another. For example, if you had a large building of 1000m2 and a small building of 10m2, you would expect the larger building to consume more energy than the smaller building. However, that doesn’t mean the larger building is using energy less efficiently than the smaller building.

A comparable metric such as a building’s floor area would be a way to fairly determine which is the least efficient site. You can then calculate the consumption per m2 of the property and then compare the results to see which is the greater number.

Sharing the ESOS report

Currently, once an ESOS report has been submitted to the environmental agency then it is up to the organisation that ordered the report to share the results with relevant personnel.  Under the new government proposals, organisations will have to include sharing the completed ESOS report with subsidiaries i.e., the corporate group of the organisation.

Setting further targets

ESOS reports include recommendations that are calculated for each individual site, that highlights cost-effective investments with maximum impact.  Currently, organisations have no obligation to act on these recommendations, but if the proposed changes are passed successfully ESOS reports will have to include information on how an organisation plans to act on the recommendations. These targets or action plans will be reported against an organisation’s Phase 4 submission.

In Summary

If the government are successful with its aim to change current ESOS legislation, then changes will likely come into force during Phase 3, meaning organisations will have to make changes to their submissions ahead of the compliance deadline. Yet some options may take longer to go through the parliamentary process and be implemented for Phase 4 and future phases.

How Can We Help?

At Compliance365 we have experienced Lead Assessors that can help you carry out and review your ESOS submission ahead of the Phase 3 deadline.

Compliance365 has created some free resources via our website to help you better understand if you must comply with ESOS compliance.

Contact the team today on 01924 669940 or send an email to sales@compliance365.co.uk to find out more.

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If your organisation isn’t already thinking about how to reduce its carbon emissions to help achieve net carbon zero aspirations, then it’s highly important to start putting plans in place.

The UK Government have set ambitious targets of becoming net carbon zero by 2050, and this can only be achieved if everyone works together.

Organisations are seeking ways in which they can reduce their emissions, other than the most apparent solutions such as energy-efficient lighting and electric vehicles if they have a fleet of cars.

Numerous organisations are adopting heat decarbonisation plans which outline how a business is planning to reduce their reliance on fossil-fuelled heating systems, through the installation of low carbon alternatives such as Air and Ground Source Heat Pumps.

Why adopt a heat decarbonisation plan?

Heat decarbonisation is intended to assist organisations working towards net carbon zero emissions. Decarbonisation refers to the process of reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and therefore it’s an excellent initiative for organisations to implement if they are wanting to reduce their emissions.

How do I know if my organisation currently has a fossil-fuelled heating system?

Some organisations may not be aware that their current systems are run by fossil fuels and that they produce large amounts of carbon emissions. Heating systems that are fuelled by oil, gas and coal are classified as fossil-fuelled heating systems, which may also be referred to as LPG systems. Organisations which currently operate on fossil-fuelled systems could see significant benefits from replacing their heating systems with low-carbon alternatives.

What are the benefits of low-carbon alternative heating systems?

Not only can replacing fossil fuelled heating systems with low carbon alternatives help organisations towards their net carbon zero goals, but organisations can also gain numerous other benefits including:

• A potential reduction in energy bills
• Reduced carbon footprint
• Increase CSR
• Can use renewable energy sources
• Improve your organisation’s sustainability
• And more!

How can Compliance365 help you?

Here at Compliance365, we have helped many of our clients on their road to net carbon zero, developing roadmaps and producing heat decarbonisation plans.

If you’d like some assistance or would simply just like to find out more about various solutions to help your organisation reduce its carbon emissions, then please do not hesitate to get in touch. You can reach us by phone on 01924 669940 or by email sales@compliance365.co.uk.

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We understand that due to the rise in energy bills, reducing energy consumption is a growing concern. Taking an interest in reducing your energy consumption in the summer months could help you reach your energy goals.

Below we have compiled some advice that may reduce your energy consumption:

Changing the settings on your washing machine to wash at a colder temperature.

If your washing machine is an older model, then it may be a high consumer of electricity due to its age. A way to reduce the energy it consumes could be to change the temperature and settings on your machine to wash at a colder temperature i.e., wash at 30° rather than 60°. Even if your machine is newer energy consumption could still be reduced due to the machine needing less energy to heat the water if ran at a lower temperature.

Closing windows, blinds, and curtains.

 A way to reduce the heat entering your house and heating up rooms is to close windows, blinds, and curtains. The temperature could be reduced due to the shade created by the closing of windows, blinds, and curtains. Once a room is cooler the need to turn on high-consuming energy units such as ceiling fans or air conditioning could be reduced due to the room already being a cooler temperature.

Changing your light bulbs.

If you switch out your bulbs for less energy-consuming ones such as LEDs, you may see a reduction in heat and energy waste. LEDs tend to have a better energy efficiency rating and use less electricity.

How Can We Help?

If you want to find out exactly how you can reduce your energy consumption, we can offer bespoke reports for your individual property. We can also offer bespoke advice and guidance on an individual basis about reducing energy consumption.

Contact us today at 01924 669940 or send us an email at sales@compliance365.co.uk to find out more about how we can help you.

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Air Conditioning Inspections (TM44) were first introduced in 2007 under the Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations.

Requirements of an inspection include the inspection being conducted by an accredited assessor and each inspection must not be more than 5 years apart.

Does my system require an inspection?

If your system has an effective rated output of more than 12Kw it is required to be inspected and have a valid TM44 report. Systems that consist of individual units which are less than 12kW, but whose overall combined effective rated output is more than 12kW require an inspection.

Whose responsibility is it?

It is the building owners or facilities manager’s responsibility to ensure that valid TM44 inspections are in place. Building owners and facilities managers have a statutory obligation and duty of care, in the operation and maintenance of each air conditioning system within their responsibility. They also must keep a copy of the report, and be able to provide the report to any future operators of the system. If the new operator does not have a copy of the report, the system must be inspected within 3 months of the new operator taking over the system.

What are the benefits of a TM44 inspection?

Having a TM44 inspection carried out can help you avoid fines. If your system is not inspected every 5 years, the building owner or facilities manager can face a fine of £300 per air conditioning unit.

Other benefits of having a TM44 inspection include:

• Potentially seeing a reduction in operating costs.
• The report may identify any faults within the system.
• You will receive information about how energy efficient your system is.

How can we help?

Our team of experienced energy assessors can provide you with a TM44 report, throughout the whole of the UK. At a competitive price and a quick turnaround.

Contact us today on 01924 669940 or send us an email at sales@compliance365.co.uk to find out more about how we can help you stay compliant with TM44 legislation.

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Although Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are valid for 10 years as long as no substantial structural changes have been made to the property, it could be beneficial to have a new EPC conducted, especially if you are looking to let your property.

Since the legislation was introduced in 2008, updates and changes have been made to the software used to produce EPCs. If you had an EPC conducted on your property numerous years ago, the rating could now be different, even if you have not made any changes to your property.

Most recently, there have been significant changes made to the SBEM software used to produce EPCs, which saw changes in the carbon factors of electricity. Previously, properties heated by electricity saw less favourable ratings than properties heated by gas. However, due to changes in the software, properties heated by electricity could now see more favourable ratings.

These changes have been made to become more aligned with the UK governments agenda of transitioning to low carbon fuel sources. Which in turn is helping to reduce carbon emissions and become net carbon zero.

By having a new EPC conducted on your property even if your current EPC is still valid, can have numerous benefits including:

Discover if your property has an improved EPC rating

In particular for landlords, if your property has previously had a poor EPC rating meaning it is not compliant with the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) legislation, the rating could now have changed if a new EPC was conducted.

From experience, many of our customers who had old EPCs with F and G ratings found that their properties ratings increased when re-surveyed.

Avoid spending money on unnecessary upgrades

If your current EPC is a poor rating and you are thinking about conducting numerous upgrades based on the recommendation report issued with the EPC, you may want to have an up-to-date EPC conducted first.

Has it been numerous years since you received the EPC and accompanying recommendation report? Can you be certain those recommendations are still reflective of the property? We recommend having a new EPC conducted if you have not had an EPC conducted in the last few years to ensure the EPC is a true representation of your property. You never know your rating could have improved.

Ensure your EPC is a true representation of your property

Have you updated the lightbulbs throughout the property? Maybe you’ve upgraded the windows or fitted a new heating system. All this information is used to calculate your properties EPC rating. If you’ve made any of these changes, even though you may not class them as substantial structural changes, they can have an effect on your properties EPC rating.

How can we help?

Compliance365 are always here to provide a helping hand. Our team of experienced Energy Consultants provide high quality EPCs, throughout the whole of the UK.

Contact us today on 01924 669940 or send us an email to sales@compliance365.co.uk to find out more about how we can help you with EPC legislation.

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Who can access the Fund?

The Salix Finance Scheme offer funding for Public Sector bodies including.;

• Central government departments and their arm’s length bodies
• Emergency services
• Institutions of further and higher education
• Local authorities
• Maintained schools within the state education system, including academies, Multi-Academy Trusts, and free schools
• Nursery schools maintained by a local authority
• NHS Trusts and Foundation Trusts

Groups such as Registered Charities, Private Sector Organisations and Social Housing are not eligible.

What is the Funding For?

The Low Carbon Skills Fund (LCSF) has been developed to help Public Organisations develop a robust Heat Decarbonisation Plan (HDP) that is aimed to help put them in a strong position to take the next steps in decarbonising. The plans will also help them to apply for any future grant funding to assist with the installation of capital decarbonisation measures.

How We Can Help?

Should you need any assistance either completing your application or support in developing your Heat Decarbonisation Plan, our in-house Consultants would be happy to help. Drop us an email on info@compliance365.co.uk or give us a call on 01924 669940.

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As a landlord, it is your responsibility to ensure that your property has a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). Since 2008, an EPC has been a legal requirement whenever a property is built, sold, or rented.

In 2018, the UK Government introduced amendments to the EPC requirements known as the Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS). These changes made it unlawful to let residential or commercial properties with an F or G rating. Though this is soon to change with changes to MEPS legislation coming into force in 2027 and 2030:

• 1 April 2027: all non-domestic rented buildings must have improved the building to EPC ≥ C, or registered a valid exemption.
• 1 April 2030: all non-domestic rented buildings must have improved the building to EPC ≥ B, or registered a valid exemption.

As a landlord if you are looking to purchase a property with a buy to let mortgage, you would need to ensure the property complies with MEPS legislation otherwise you may not be able to obtain a buy to let mortgage on the property or you may not be able to let the property if it had an F or G EPC rating.

How can we help?

At Compliance365, we can conduct an EPC on your property to determine whether it meets the Minimum Energy Performance Standards. If your property  does not meet the standards, we can:

• Provide advice on the legislation and the implications for both the Landlord and the occupier.
• Produce an EPC Review on an EPC carried out by ourselves. This report proposes cost-effective upgrades that could be made to the property, detailing the improved energy rating, cost, kWh and CO2 savings (Scenario Analysis).
• Provide budgetary costs for the upgrades we propose, helping companies to determine their next step towards compliance.
• Support you through the installation, awarding a new compliant certificate upon project completion or assist with listing an exemption to the PRS register for those properties unable to attain the minimum rating.

To find out more, contact our friendly team today on 01924 669940 or send an email to sales@compliance365.co.uk.

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The legislation was developed to increase awareness of energy efficiency across your property’s estate and help identify ways in which businesses can reduce their carbon emissions.

SECR has been devised to make carbon and energy reporting easier for businesses, by aligning it with existing mandatory reporting procedures. A SECR report may help you find ways in which your business can reduce its carbon emissions.

SECR must be reported on each financial year and qualifying businesses must include SECR findings in their Directors Report or an equivalent Energy and Carbon Report for LLPs. Your Directors Report may be rejected if it does not contain SECR data and a late filing penalty may be applied.

SECR legislation effect’s the following types of businesses:

• Quoted companies of any size that are already obliged to report their Greenhouse Gas annually.
• Unquoted companies incorporated in the UK are defined as ‘large’ under the Companies Act 2006. This also applies to registered and unregistered companies.
• ‘Large’ Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) will be required to prepare and file an ‘Energy and Carbon Report’.

Business Groups are classed as large if they meet the below criteria:

• They employ 250 or more employees
• They turnover more than 36 million annually
• They have an annual balance sheet total of 18 million or more

Your business must report on the following if SECR applies to you:

• Scope 1 Emissions – Mandatory (Direct Emissions) – Activities owned or controlled by your organisation that release emissions into the atmosphere e.g. boilers, vehicles refrigerants such as F gases
• Scope 2 Emissions – Mandatory (Energy Indirect Emissions) – Emissions being released into the atmosphere associated with your purchased electricity, heat & steam or cooling
• Scope 3 Emissions – Discretionary (Other Indirect Emissions) – Emissions that are a consequence of your business activities which occur from sources out of your controls e.g. business travel by means not owned/controlled by you, waste disposal.

How Can We Help?

Compliance365 can help you identify ways to reduce your business’s carbon emissions and energy consumption, producing a streamlined energy and carbon report to be included within your directors’ report.

At Compliance365 we can help you collect information through our C365Cloud Compliance software. Our C365Cloud software has been created to help organisations monitor, evidence, and improve their estate facilities and compliance management. The information C365Cloud has gathered can then be presented back in an Executive Summary suitable for a Director’s Report.

Contact us today on 01924 669940 or send us an email to sales@compliance365.co.uk to find out more about how we can help you with SECR.

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Compliance365 are a one-stop-shop offering a range of energy and carbon consultancy services nationwide.  

We provide services across a wide variety of sectors including: 

• Education  
• Hospitality  
• Leisure and Retail  
• Housing Associations 
• Public Bodies  
• and many more!  

When working with customers we always ensure our work is delivered to the highest standards and take a great focus on customer care.  

Not only can we help you to comply with various energy legislations, but we can also provide a helping hand when it comes to energy and carbon consultancy advice. Here are just a few ways in which we can help you:  

Compliance with Energy Legislations 

At Compliance365 we have a plethora of experience offering high-quality assessments with a high-speed turnaround.   

Energy assessments that we provide include: 

• Display Energy Certificates 
• Energy Performance Certificates 
• TM44 Air Conditioning 
• Minimum Energy Performance Standards 
• Energy Saving Opportunity Scheme 
• Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting 
• And more!  

Carbon Consultancy 

In addition to helping organisations to become compliant with energy legislations, we are experts when it comes to assisting organisations with their energy and carbon reduction plans. 

We offer numerous solutions to our clients to assist them with energy and carbon reduction such as: 

Behavioural Training 

• Billing Management 
• Effective Energy Management 
• Energy and Carbon Auditing 
• Net Zero Carbon Reports 

At Compliance365, we are passionate about helping our clients to become more energy efficient, reducing their carbon footprint wherever possible. 

Want to find out more – Get in touch 

We provide advice and guidance on all our services; how to save energy; how to save money on your energy bills; and ultimately how to become more energy efficient. If you want to learn more about how we can help you. Then get in touch with our friendly team on 01924 669940 or send us an email to sales@compliance365.co.uk.   

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Here at Compliance365, we are here to help you not only support Earth Day but also help you the rest of the 364 days a year.

We can do this by:

• Finding ways in which your business can reduce its carbon footprint
• Provide bespoke energy consultancy advice, support, and guidance
• Help you towards your Net Zero goals

Finding ways for your business to reduce its carbon footprint   

Compliance365 can help you reduce your carbon footprint by providing you with an energy audit. An energy audit is an in-depth report to demonstrate the energy-saving areas in your business. The main aim of an energy audit is to underline the potential behavioural changes that will reduce a property’s energy consumption. From these reports, energy savings can then be calculated alongside budgetary costs and the payback period. 

At Compliance365 our energy audits are bespoke to each customer. From the findings of our energy audits, we can recommend upgrades such as LED lighting, photoelectric controls, solar panels, and boiler optimisations. 

Providing bespoke energy consultancy advice, support, and guidance 

Here at Compliance365, we have a wealth of experience in helping our clients to reduce their carbon footprint and energy spending by providing expert consultancy, advice, and support. Our experienced, industry accredited team, works shoulder to shoulder with our clients to enhance energy performance, identify areas for carbon reduction and ensure compliance. Energy services we can help you with include DECs, EPCs, TM44s, MEPs, SECR, ESOS, Net Zero, and other energy legislation.  

We can help you toward your Net Zero goals 

After the UK became the first country to aim towards a target of Net Zero emissions by 2050. Businesses have faced the challenge to reduce their carbon footprint to meet this target.   

A way in which businesses are doing this is by setting Net Zero goals. Net Zero refers to reaching a balance between greenhouse gas emissions emitted and greenhouse gas emissions removed from the atmosphere. Net Zero is reached when the amount we add is no more than the amount removed. It is recommended that organisations create a road map to understand what steps need to be taken to reach NetZero. 

If you are just starting on your journey toward Net Zero or have already started and are unsure on your next steps towards Net Zero. Compliance365 can help by advising you on how to become more energy efficient and help you on your journey towards Net Zero in line with the UK government.  

How Can We Help? 

If you want to learn more about how to reduce your carbon emissions, reduce your carbon footprint, receive advice on energy consultancy and how to become more aware of how your business can help the earth. Then get in touch with our friendly team on 01924 669940 or send us an email to sales@compliance365.co.uk.  

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The Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) also known as Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES), came into effect in April 2018. MEPS legislation makes it unlawful to let residential or commercial properties with an EPC rating of F or G until their energy efficiency has been addressed. The MEPS legislation does not affect properties that are being sold. However, a low energy rating may put off potential buyers.

The responsibility of complying with MEPS legislation is the landlord or property owner’s and isn’t the tenant’s responsibility.

Landlords will be unable to re-let a property without a compliant EPC or an agreed exemption.

Some properties are exempt from MEPS legislation they include:

• Some listed buildings
• Places of worship
• Temporary buildings that will be used for less than 2 years
• Stand alone buildings with total useful floor space of less than 50sqm
• Some buildings that are due to be demolished
• Holiday accommodation that’s rented out for less than 4 months a year or is let under a license to occupy
• Residential buildings used less than 4 months a year

At Compliance365 we can help landlords and property owners determine the best way to upgrade their properties rating through our MEPS EPC reports.

Compliance365’s MEPS report follows the below steps:

• An accredited assessor will conduct a site survey.
• Compliance365 will generate a building model with HVAC and lighting attributes. We are able to run energy-saving simulations such as upgrading lighting or installing variable speed drives.
• We utilize a technology called DesignBuilder to create a 3D model complete with energy attributes of the building recorded during the site survey and to accurately calculate the least expensive and easiest building upgrades to attain an EPC rating of ‘E’ or above. We do this by performing what-if scenario solutions to accurately calculate the easiest upgrades to achieve an EPC rating of E or above.
• Finally, once all proposed upgrades are made where practical we can complete a post EPC.

Our report summarises the effect each recommendation would have on a property EPC rating. At Compliance365 we offer EPC and review service that helps our customers achieve compliance.  Our team of energy and carbon consultants is happy to provide advice and guidance on MEPS legislation.

Contact us today on 01924 669940 or send us an email to info@compliance365.co.uk to find out more about how we can help you.

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An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) measures the energy efficiency of a building which is represented on a graphical scale from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient). The EPC rating includes information about a property’s energy use.

Although it is a legal requirement to comply with EPC legislation, those that do comply can pose numerous benefits:

A reduction in energy bills.

An EPC includes a breakdown of a property’s energy performance. If your property is highly efficient you may spend less money on heating bills. As the better the rating, the lower your energy bills are likely to be.

Avoiding Fines.

Fines can be issued if EPC legislation is not met these can be issued to the landlord or owner of any domestic or commercial building. A landlord or owner can be fined £200 for not complying with EPC legislation.

Understanding your effect on the environment.

Each EPC comes with a recommendation report. For a commercial EPC, each recommendation is ranked low, medium, and high against the potential impact of the change of reducing the property’s co2 emissions.

For domestic EPCs, the recommendation report includes budgetary costs, and the potential rating after installation of energy efficiency upgrades have been made.

Occupiers of commercial buildings are able to identify where the most energy is being consumed and therefore where they can make changes to reduce their energy consumption. A better understanding of the emissions produced may help the UK Government reach its net-zero emissions target by 2050, as the occupiers will be able to identify where they can start to reduce their carbon emissions.

How Can We Help?

Compliance365 offers nationwide coverage throughout the UK, high-speed turnaround, and competitive pricing.

We can also offer guidance on how to improve your EPC rating and how to stay compliant with EPC legislation.

Get in touch today to find out more about how we can help you. Call us on 01924 669940 or send an email to sales@compliance365.co.uk

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ESOS is a UK legislation that mandates organisations to audit their estates and establish opportunities for saving energy.

ESOS is required if your organisation employs more than 250 employees, or has a turnover and balance sheet exceeding €50 million, and €43 million respectively.

Proposed changes to the legislation include:

Removing DECs and Green Deal Assessments as Compliance Routes

Currently, there are four routes to comply with ESOS legislation:

• Energy Audits
• ISO 50001
• Display Energy Certificates (DECs)
• Green Deal Assessments (GDAs)

Both Energy Audits and ISO 5001 are considered to be good routes to compliance. ISO 5001 requires organisations to take responsibility for their energy management and to set targets for energy reduction, and Energy Audits are advantageous for identifying new opportunities for energy and carbon reduction and validating the methods of improvement.

Under the new proposals, the UK Government is proposing to remove DECs and GDAs as compliance routes for ESOS, as they are concerned DECs and GDAs are not meeting ESOS best practice standards.

Reappraise the De Minimis

Under the new proposal, the government propose to reduce the De Minimis to 5% from 10%.

Currently, organisations may exclude up to 10% of their total energy consumption through De Minimis rules, meaning that they may have been whole sites or energy from transport excluded from their ESOS report.

Improve the Site Sampling Requirements

Under the current ESOS requirements, organisations with a large property portfolio are allowed to audit only a small number of their sites under the De Minimis threshold.

The government propose to make the requirements around site sampling more coherent, for example, introducing a minimum threshold for the number of sites reported on and the percentage of total energy consumption.

Reaching Net Zero

Numerous organisations face the challenge of reducing their carbon emissions and meeting the UK’s government target of Net Zero by 2050.

The proposed changes to ESOS would encourage organisations to address long term investments rather than short term cost saving actions recommended through the current ESOS scheme, as short term investments are not always considered sufficient in helping organisations achieve Net Zero

There are numerous other proposed changes which the Government are considering introducing ahead of Phase 3, to help improve and strengthen the legislation, whilst helping to align ESOS to other energy legislations such as SECR and Net Zero. You can read more about the proposed changes by clicking here.

How Can We Help?

Compliance365’s experienced energy and carbon consultants can help your organisation to comply with ESOS, and also help you take steps towards Net Zero. We can work with you to develop innovative ways to reduce your carbon emissions ensuring the best practices.

To find out more, contact our friendly team today on 01924 669940 or send an email to sales@compliance365.co.uk.

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After advice from the UK’s Committee on Climate Change in 2019, the UK government became the first country to aim towards a target of Net-Zero emissions by 2050.

Net-Zero refers to reaching a balance between greenhouse gas emissions emitted and greenhouse gas emissions removed from the atmosphere. Net-Zero is reached when the amount of CO2 we add is no more than the amount CO2 removed. It is recommended that organisations create a road map to understand what steps need to be taken to reach Net-Zero.

We can help your organisation take the next steps towards Net-Zero by advising you on how to become more energy-efficient, helping you on your journey towards Net-Zero as set out by the UK government.

Reaching Net-Zero emissions can have numerous benefits for your organisations including:

1. Reducing Energy Bills

By identifying large consumers of energy, organisations can identify areas in which they can make changes to reduce energy consumption. By making changes to large consumers, organisations may see a reduction in energy bills and lower their carbon emissions.

2. Reduce Carbon Emissions and Improve CSR

Reaching Net-Zero can help organisations reduce their carbon emissions and identify opportunities for improvement within their supply chain and generate a more positive public opinion of their organisation.

3. Help Towards Complying with MEPS Milestones

The Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) also referred to as The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) is legislation that has made it unlawful to let residential or commercial properties with an EPC rating of F or G.

The Government has introduced new MEPS milestones which require landlords to improve their property to at least a C rating by 1st April 2027 and subsequently make sure that by 1st April 2030 the property has an EPC rating of B. By starting on a road to Net-Zero, organisations can also take steps to look at how they can improve their properties EPCs, helping them towards becoming compliant with MEPS legislation.

How Can We Help?

Compliance365’s team of energy and carbon consultants can help your organisation to produce a road map for achieving net-zero carbon emissions, helping the UK government to reach its goal of an 80% reduction by 2050.

Get in touch today to find out more about how we can help you. Call us on 01924 669940 or send us an email to sales@compliance365.co.uk

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Higher Educational Institutions are required to comply with numerous energy legislations such as DEC’s and Air Conditioning (TM44) Inspections. More recently, Higher Education Institutions have been challenged to make a conscious effort to meet the UK Governments’ target of producing net-zero emissions the Climate Commission for UK Higher and Further Education was established, which aims to develop a road map to help tackle carbon emissions across the sector.

At Compliance365, we have a plethora of experience with helping Higher Education Institutions become compliant with energy legislation, providing you with a one-stop-shop for all your energy certification requirements.

We offer solutions including:

Display Energy Certificate’s (DECs)

A Display Energy Certificate (DEC) was introduced to help monitor the energy efficiency of a building and to inform visitors about a building’s energy use.

A DEC is a legal requirement if the building is frequently visited by the public, if the building has a total floor area of over 250m2 or if the building is occupied by a local authority.

Air Conditioning (TM44)

Under the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), air conditioning inspections are a legal requirement for air conditioning systems with an effective rated output greater than 12KW. This will include systems consisting of individual units which are less than 12kW but whose combined effective rated output is more than 12kW. Air conditioning units must be inspected every 5 years, if your air conditioning unit is not inspected every 5 years, you may be fined £300 per air con unit.

Road to NetZero

After advice from the UK’s Committee on Climate Change in 2019, the UK government became the first country to aim towards a target of Net Zero emissions by 2050.

Compliance365 can help your institution take the next steps by advising you on how to become more energy-efficient and help you on your journey towards the Road to NetZero as set out by the UK Higher and Further Education Road Map.

To help organisations effectively manage their energy compliance, Compliance365 has developed a module through our C365Cloud software. C365Cloud aids in the delivery, storage, and management of all outputs and any KPI/SLA (progress) report data at agreed frequencies and to specified timescales.

Get in touch today to find out more about how we can help you. Call us on 01924 669940 or send us an email to sales@compliance365.co.uk.

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A DEC is required when

• If the building is frequently visited by the public.
• If the building has a total useful floor area of over 250m2
• If occupied by a local authority or any public used building.

Although DECs are a legal requirement that organisations must comply with, they can also pose numerous benefits including:

1. Augment Awareness of Energy Use.

A DEC is based on the actual amount of metered energy used by the building over the last 12 months within the validity period of the DEC. By producing a DEC, occupiers of the building are able to identify where the most energy is being consumed and therefore where they can make changes to reduce their energy consumption. It can also help organisations prepare for helping the UK Government reach its net-zero emissions target by 2050, as the organisation will be able to identify where they can start to reduce their carbon emissions.

2. Improve Corporate Social Responsibility

By displaying a DEC in a place clearly visible to the public, people are made aware of how energy efficient your property is. If your property has a good DEC rating, showing your property is energy efficient and low on carbon emissions, you can increase your organisation’s Corporate Social Responsibility

3. Avoiding Fines.

The penalty for failure to display a DEC is £500 as well as a further £1000 for failure to obtain an AR. Ensuring compliance with the legislation will help your organisation to avoid fines.

Compliance365 are happy to provide help and guidance on DEC legislation. Our assessors are fully accredited to produce DEC’s and RR’s and we can provide your organisation with a comprehensive DEC service, ensuring your property is compliant with the legislation.

Get in touch today to find out more about how we can help you. Call us on 01924 669940 or send us an email to sales@compliance365.co.uk.

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All buildings frequently visited by the public which are over 250 m² require by law to have a valid Display Energy Certificate (DEC) with an accompanying Advisory Report (AR). Failure to display a DEC in a place clearly visible to the public can result in fines up to £500 and a further £1,000 for failure to obtain an AR.

Where the building has a total useful floor area of more than 1,000 m², the DEC is valid for 12 months. The accompanying advisory report is valid for 7 years. Where the building has a total useful floor area of between 250 m² and 1,000 m², the DEC and advisory report are valid for 10 years.

Although DECs are a legal obligation which organisations are required to comply with, complying with the legislation can pose numerous benefits. DECs are based on the buildings operational rating of a property which means accurate recommendations can be made specific to the building on how to reduce its energy consumption, and ultimately save the occupier money.

Our team of energy consultants can advise you on how you can maximise your energy efficiency.

Compliance365 has experience in providing DECs, supplying circa 3,000 per year on average, across a variety of sectors throughout the UK such as the NHS, Schools, Universities and Councils. We are committed to maintaining Covid-19 safe working practices in-line with UK Government guidelines.

We manage each company’s portfolio on our unique cloud system, which automatically notifies us when a company’s DEC is due to expire, enabling us to send reminders ensuring you stay compliant with the legislation.

Our Energy and Carbon Consultants are fully accredited to produce DECs and Recommendation Reports, making recommendations specific to your building. Recommendations suggest how  you could improve the energy efficiency of your building and reduce your carbon emissions.

Get in touch today to find out more about how we can help you. Call us on 01924 669940 or send us an email to sales@compliance365.co.uk.

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The UK Government has released a consultation on raising MEES requirements in non-domestic properties that are rented. Landlords now have 6 years to ensure their properties have an EPC C, with failure to comply leading to extensive fines. These changes come as the UK Government continues in their aim to bring all Greenhouse Gases to net zero by 2050, with a 57% reduction in carbon emissions across the UK economy by 2032.

Currently, the MEES legislation makes it unlawful for a landlord to grant a new tenancy or extend an existing tenancy of a property that has an EPC rating of F or G, with this extending to existing tenancies from April 2023 for commercial property.

There will be a phased implementation of the 2027 and 2030 changes, which will be based on two-year compliance windows. Landlords will be required to present a valid EPC two years before the enforcement date for each EPC target, which the consultation states is a notable change.

First Compliance Window: EPC C (2025-2027):

• 1 April 2025: landlords of all non-domestic rented buildings within the scope of MEES must present a valid EPC.
• 1 April 2027: all non-domestic rented buildings must have improved the building to EPC ≥ C, or registered a valid exemption.

Second Compliance Window: EPC B (2028-2030):

• 1 April 2028: landlords of all non-domestic rented buildings within the scope of MEES must present a valid EPC.
• 1 April 2030: all non-domestic rented buildings must have improved the building to EPC ≥ B, or registered a valid exemption.

We recommend organisations start improving their EPC ratings now by making energy efficient improvements to be prepared for the changes. Starting now will be most cost effective in the long-term and you won’t have to make all the improvements in a short space of time.

Compliance365 can help you take the necessary steps towards compliance ahead of the approaching deadline. We:

• Provide advice on the legislation and the implications for both the Landlord and the occupier.
• Assess the Energy Efficiency of a building, by producing an Energy Performance certificate (EPC).
• Produce an EPC Review on an EPC carried out by ourselves. This report proposes cost-effective upgrades that could be made to the property, detailing the improved energy rating, cost, kWh and CO2 savings (Scenario Analysis).
• Provide budgetary costs for the upgrades we propose, helping companies to determine their next step towards compliance.
• Support you through the installation, awarding a new compliant certificate upon project completion or assist with listing an exemption to the PRS register for those properties unable to attain the minimum rating.

To find out more, contact our friendly team today on 01924 669940 or send an email to sales@compliance365.co.uk

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