Energy Regs & Academies: A Compliance Guide

An outline of the requirements with regard to energy certificates and MEES, and their implications for academy trusts.

In connection with efforts to combat global climate change, the regulatory regime governing energy efficiency requirements for buildings has become increasingly complex, and increasingly strict, in recent years. The two central planks of the current regime are the Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 2012 ("the EPC Regulations), which impose a requirement to obtain display energy certificates ("DECs") and energy performance certificates ("EPCs"), and the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015 ("the MEES Regulations"), which introduced the concept of minimum energy efficiency standards ("MEES"). The regulations cover both domestic and non-domestic buildings, including school buildings. It is important, therefore, that academy trusts have an awareness of their obligations under the