Uncertainties in Non-Domestic Energy Performance Certificate Generating in the UK

Abstract

In light of the recent launch of the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard targeting the energy performance of commercial buildings, this study compares the energy performance certificates of three UK hotels generated by two different software, EDSL TAS and SBEM, both accredited by the UK government for the purpose. Upon finding the results discrepant, the study finds that the two software’s different assumptions for the air permeability rate contribute to the discrepancy. While modifying this value makes the results from the two software more aligned, further issues regarding the validation process arise. The study continues to find that the underlying issue can be found within the National Calculation Methodology’s assumption about domestic hot water consumption in hotels. These assumptions are compulsory to follow when generating a non-domestic energy performance certificate in the UK, therefore, any uncertainties within them can affect all the buildings seeking an energy performance certificate within that sector. Finally, the study discusses that, for meeting the carbon dioxide mitigation goals, it is necessary to make changes to the current procedure of energy performance certificate generating in the UK to increase its reliability.

Energy Performance Certificate Renewal – an Analysis of Reliability of Simple Non-Domestic Buildings’ Epc Ratings and Pragmatic Improving Strategies in the UK

“…As we are approaching the analysis of the reliability of the nondomestic EPC in the UK from all the published EPC data, we have greater coverage and completeness compared to most studies. For example, Amirkhani et al (2021) also looked into the uncertainties in non-domestic buildings in the UK. However, they focused on three hotel buildings only, and the generalisability of the result may be limited.…”