EPC's - An Issue Of Organisation

From 6 April 2008, the legal requirement to produce an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for any prospective purchaser or lessee is being rolled out to commercial buildings. The EPC will grade the energy efficiency of a building on a scale from A to G, similar to the current system used for grading white goods. EPC's will be required for the construction, sale or rent of buildings and are likely to be extended to all commercail buildings in due course.

Facilities managers are at the forefront of ensuring the smooth introduction of EPC's and the corresponding Display Energy Certificate (DEC). Applicable to public buildings only, the DEC will provide information to visitors on the energy efficiency of buildings with a floor area over 1,000sq m and will need to be updated annually.

Danny Hoy, Facilities Manager for property, planning and highways specialist, Urban Vision is relaxed about the implementation of the new legislation. Through careful planning and the introduction of a new information management system, Danny believes that Urban Vision is more than ready to face the challenge.

"There has understandably been some concern amongst property and facilities managers regarding the implementation of the new requirements and  the corresponding planning and organisation the new system will require. However, as we work towards sustainable property management, new regulations are liable to become commonplace."

Urban Vision has recently deployed "Realise", a highly user friendly but sophisticated information management system successfully developed by Capita Symonds for Blackburn Borough Council. Designed to hold a wealth of information on the structure and management of council buildings, the system enables facilities managers to access and update details via a straightforward and comprehensive database. Keen to share good practice, the system has now been adopted by Urban Vision and is curerntly being rolled out in the buildings it manages on behalf of Salford City Council. Danny explains the system:

"What is particularly unique about this management tool is that it is web based, and the information held will not only be accessible to facilities managers, but can also be easily retrieved by occupiers. The system will hold a wealth of different information, such as the running costs of the building, management contacts, asbestos details, and of course from April 2008, the EPC.

"We are already in the process of carrying out the relevant surveys and collating the necessary data prior to the introduction of EPC's later this year. As information comes in, we are able to input it directly into the new system, allowing clients to not only view the final grade, but to also discover how the survey is progressing via their own unique webpage. At the click of a web link, owners and lessees are able to access the full accompanying report, ensuring that all information held on the system is transparent and accessible."

Once information is entered into the system, it is easy to update and manage, ensuring that the introduction of the certificates, and any further energy legislation need not be a burden. Although the new system is up and runing and working well, new development is constantly taking place. However, Urban Vision is convinced that when the database is populated and operational across Salford City Council and Blackburn Borough Council, other local authorities will recognise that the system is an invaluable one stop shop for all their building information to enable their property assets to be managed with optimum efficiency and effectiveness.