CIBSE Energy Assessor scheme to deliver for April deadline

CIBSE's Low Carbon Energy Assessor scheme is on target to provide 100 newly approved Energy Assessors by the 6 April deadline, ready to issue the first of the thousands of Energy Performance Certificates that will be required to meet the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.

CIBSE Certification Ltd was one of the first organisations to be given the go ahead to accredit Energy Assessors by the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) and is committed to accrediting sufficient assessors to provide the services needed to produce Energy Performance Certificates. The Institution expects to provide 100 Low Carbon Energy Assessors by the 6^thApril and at least a further 300 by 1^st June and many more by October.

The Government recently announced transitional arrangements for buildings already on the market at 6^th April; any building which is on the market before then and remains on the market afterwards will need an Energy Performance Certificate by 1^st October at the latest.  If it is sold or rented out in the meantime, an EPC must be commissioned and then handed over as soon as reasonably practicable.

CIBSE believes these arrangements are unlikely to significantly reduce the number of certificates required, so demand for accredited assessors is likely to be high, especially from July onward when more buildings fall within the scope of the regulations. The Institution is therefore calling on suitably qualified members and others to apply for accreditation now, in order to be ready for the peak demand.

Low Carbon Energy Assessors will be trained and accredited to produce Display Energy Certificates (DECs) and Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), and will undertake regular CPD to ensure an ongoing high quality of service.

CIBSE is committed to providing members and the wider industry with the knowledge and understanding to reduce carbon emissions in buildings. CIBSE Energy Assessors will meet the required standard of energy assessment in the UK, they will also provide the high levels of competency needed to improve the energy performance of a building and reduce carbon emissions.