Commercial EPCs and electricity fuel factors…

This year sees the introduction of the new Part L building regulations. As part of the building regulations update the Department for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities (DLUHC) and the Building Research Establishment (BRE) have reviewed the Carbon Dioxide emissions (CO2) associated with each fuel type.

The CO2 emissions associated with electricity from the grid are set to reduce to reflect that more of the grid’s electricity supply is coming from renewable sources, rather than the burning of fossil fuels.

This is of particular relevance for commercial EPCs. The Energy Performance rating for non-domestic properties is based on the CO2 emissions of the property – the lower the CO2 emissions, the better the EPC rating. This means that properties with electrical heating will likely see their EPC rating improve without any physical changes to the property.

The new regulations and carbon factors are due to come into force on 15th June 2022.