Time for Government to deliver on green buildings

10 May 2011: Some of the biggest names in the property sector have today called on the Government to honour its commitments on energy efficiency ratings, as MPs prepare to debate the Energy Bill in the House of Commons. Senior industry figures have sent an open letter to the Prime Minister and other senior ministers, calling for the Energy Bill to be used to legislate on Display Energy Certificates (DECs), which provide an A-G energy efficiency rating for buildings. The certificates are currently mandatory for public sector buildings, but are not compulsory in the private sector. Non-domestic buildings currently account for up to 17% of the UK’s carbon emissions. The letter, initiated by the British Property Federation and the UK Green Building Council, argues that without legislation, private property owners could be disadvantaged by opting to display their energy rating.