Plans for new energy ratings for public buildings

Public buildings like museums, galleries, government buildings and town halls must get energy ratings - like consumer friendly fridge ratings - and display them to the public from April 2008, the Government said today.

Visitors will be able to see the annual carbon emissions of each building. This measure is intended to encourage energy improvements to public buildings, help cut costs to the public purse and lead the way in cutting carbon emissions.

Housing Minister Yvette Cooper said: "We must all work together to cut carbon emissions. More than 40% of carbon emissions in the UK come from buildings.

"From the local library to the House of Commons, the public sector must do its bit to cut carbon emissions.

"Often both those who use and those who operate public buildings have little idea how energy efficient they actually are, nor what could be done to improve them. From April next year, all public buildings will need to be energy rated so we can track progress in cutting carbon emissions and cutting fuel bills too."

The publication of regulations published today on the Energy Performance of Buildings paves the way for the introduction of Home Information Packs (HIPs) which include Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) for homes. Final regulations to introduce HIPs were also published today.

From 1 October next year, privately renting tenants will get an EPC from their landlords.

EPCs must be provided as part of HIPs for all homes marketed for sale from 1 June. The certificates will help home buyers save an estimated £300 a year on their fuel bills if the recommendations are implemented.

The Government is also working to link EPCs with developing green mortgages and grants from utility companies in order to help homeowners who want to improve properties with a low EPC rating.

EPCs will include details from the Energy Saving Trust (EST) which can advise home buyers on grants of £200-£500 to help put in cavity wall insulation or other improvements.

The Energy Performance Certificate is the only 'new' measure in Home Information Packs, as the other items in the pack are already provided and paid for in the home buying and selling process.

New figures published today show there are now more than 3,000 energy assessors in training in addition to the 1,000 Home Inspectors already trained, ensuring the industry will be ready for smooth implementation of HIPs on 1 June.

The Government believes HIPs with EPCs will cut costs for consumers, both for their fuel bills and in buying and selling homes. Asda has already said its new estate agency service will provide EPCs and other HIP documents for free. Others have said they will only charge on a 'no sale no fee' basis. Among providers who will be charging, the market price of the EPC is currently £100, although we expect this to fall as competition heats up.

The HIPs regulations implement the measures set out earlier this year and provide for EPCs to be included alongside searches and other legal documents in HIPs from June 1. By providing the searches and legal documents at the beginning of the process HIPs will speed up the sale process, improve transparency and competition and create pressure to bring down the costs of buying and selling homes.

Currently there is little price competition around the transaction process. HIPs are bringing in greater competition and transparency to bring the price down. As the documents will need to be provided by sellers rather than buyers, they will also save first-time buyers several hundred pounds each.