A Commercial Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) assesses the energy efficiency of a non-domestic building and gives it a rating from A (most energy efficient) to G (least energy efficient).

In addition, the assessment considers the building itself together with energy-related systems such as heating, cooling, ventilation and lighting.

The resulting EPC provides an energy efficiency rating and is accompanied by recommendations identifying potential ways to improve the building’s energy performance and possibly reduce running costs.

Commercial EPCs must be produced by an appropriately accredited Non-Domestic Energy Assessor (NDEA) and lodged on the official government EPC register.

You will generally need a Commercial EPC when a non-domestic building is:

• constructed
• sold
• rented to a new tenant
• marketed for sale or rent where a valid EPC is not already available
• subject to certain alterations affecting separately occupied parts and fixed building services

A valid EPC must normally be made available to prospective buyers or tenants where the regulations apply.

A Commercial EPCs remains valid for 10 years, unless a newer EPC replaces it.

Some buildings and transactions are exempt from EPC requirements. If you’re unsure whether your property requires an EPC, EnergyCore Compliance Ltd (ECC) can review the circumstances and advise on the appropriate assessment.

During the site survey, our assessor gathers information about the building and its services to calculate its energy performance.

Depending on the property, this may include:

• building dimensions and floor areas
• construction type and building fabric
• insulation
• heating and hot water systems
• air conditioning and cooling
• mechanical and natural ventilation
• lighting
• building controls
• renewable technologies
• other relevant fixed building services

The information is then entered into approved energy assessment software to calculate the building’s energy performance and produce the EPC.

Offices & Business Premises

Corporate offices, office blocks, serviced offices, business parks and co-working spaces.

Retail & Leisure

Shops, retail units, shopping centres, supermarkets, showrooms, gyms, cinemas, restaurants and leisure facilities.

Industrial & Logistics

Warehouses, distribution centres, manufacturing facilities, workshops and industrial units.

Hospitality

Hotels, restaurants, pubs, cafés and other hospitality premises.

Education, Healthcare & Public Buildings

Schools, colleges, healthcare facilities, community buildings and other qualifying public-sector premises.

Complex & Mixed-Use Buildings

Larger commercial buildings, mixed-use developments and properties incorporating complex HVAC, ventilation or building management systems.

A Commercial EPC provides far more than legal compliance.

Benefits include:

📉 Reduced energy costs

🌱 Lower carbon emissions

🏢 Improved building performance

📈 Increased property appeal

✅ Compliance with legislation

💷 Potential increase in asset value

🔧 Identification of energy-saving opportunities

🤝 Greater confidence for buyers and tenants

Not every commercial building requires the same level of assessment.

The appropriate Non-Domestic Energy Assessor accreditation level depends on the building’s construction, size and complexity of its building services.

You don’t need to determine the level yourself. Instead, simply provide us with the property details and our team will identify the appropriate assessment level before providing your quotation.

In many cases, no. Property owners must have a valid Commercial EPC before marketing a property for sale or lease, unless a specific exemption applies. Failing to provide an EPC where required can result in enforcement action and financial penalties.

The cost of a Commercial EPC depending on several factors, including the building’s size, location, construction and the complexity of it’s building services.

Providing floorplans, an existing EPC or information about the building’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems can help us establish the assessment requirements and provide an accurate quotation.

Commercial EPCs and Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) are closely linked. A Commercial Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) assesses the energy efficiency of a non-domestic building and gives it a rating from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient). In turn, MEES regulations then use that EPC rating to determine whether certain privately rented commercial properties meet the minimum energy efficiency standard required for letting.

Currently, landlords of qualifying privately rented non-domestic properties in England and Wales must generally achieve a minimum EPC rating of E, unless a valid exemption applies. This means that a commercial property with an F or G rating may require energy efficiency improvements before the landlord can legally be let or continue to be let the property.

The standards are also set to become more demanding for larger commercial properties. The Government has discussed its intention to introduce a higher minimum standard for privately rented non-domestic buildings over 1,000m², with these properties proposed to achieve an EPC B rating from 2031, where cost-effective. Buildings below 1,000m² are currently intended to remain subject to the existing EPC E minimum standard.

This makes the Commercial EPC an important starting point for MEES compliance. It establishes the property’s current energy rating and can help landlords identify where improvements may be required.

At EnergyCore Compliance Ltd (ECC), we can support landlords and property managers with more than simply producing the EPC. Our MEES consultancy service can help assess your current position, review potential energy efficiency improvements and develop a practical compliance strategy – particularly for landlords managing larger buildings or commercial property portfolios that may be affected by future MEES requirements.

Planning ahead can help spread improvement costs, reduce compliance risks and avoid leaving major energy efficiency works until future deadlines approach.

Ideally, send us:

• the property address
• approximate floor area
• property type and use
• number of floors
• existing EPC, if available
• floorplans or drawings, if available
• details of any complex HVAC or building services, if known

If you don’t have everything available, that’s not a problem. Send us what you have and we’ll advise what else is required.

Yes. We work with clients requiring everything from individual Commercial EPCs to multi-site property portfolio assessments.

For larger portfolios, we can coordinate assessments across multiple locations and provide a single point of contact, reducing the amount of administration required from your team. We also find it more cost-effective for our clients, as we can offer discounted fees for multiple instructions.

A Commercial EPC and TM44 Air Conditioning Inspection are separate assessments and one does not replace the other.

A Commercial EPC assesses the overall energy performance of a building.

A TM44 inspection examines the efficiency and operation of qualifying air conditioning systems. Systems with a combined effective rated output of more than 12kW must generally be inspected at intervals not exceeding five years.

Many commercial buildings therefore require both an EPC and a TM44 inspection.

EnergyCore Compliance provides both services, allowing clients to coordinate multiple energy compliance requirements through one provider.