Commercial Property Energy Performance Certificates are similar to their domestic counterparts, the energy certificate for commercial buildings will look the same and carry the same ratings as for domestic energy certificates. The DEC or Display Energy Certificate must be displayed in a public place.

The EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) requires that from April 2008 any commercial property in the UK, which is within the limits described below will require an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) upon construction, or prior to sale or lease of the property.

From 1 October 2008 - EPCs required on the sale or rent of all remaining dwellings
EPCs required on the construction, sale or rent of all remaining buildings other than dwellings.
Display certificates required for all public buildings in excess of 1,000 m2.
By 4 January 2009 - First inspection of all existing air-conditioning systems over 250 kW must have occurred by this date

By 4 January 2011 - First inspection of all remaining air-conditioning systems over 12 kW must have occurred by this date

A system which is first put into service on or after 1 January 2008 must have a first inspection within 5 years of it first being put into service.
These dates and details may be subject to revision at any time. These dates represent the latest (Nov 2007) schedule released by CLG. Refer to EPC Timetable.

After these deadlines any commercial property which is placed on the property market for sale or rent in England and Wales requires an energy inspection by an Energy Assessor and an Energy Performance Certificate (Commercial EPC) obtained. Existing tenancies in place before the deadline are exempt, if they subsequently come on to the market for sale or lease after this time, then an energy inspection and certificate will be required.
EPC - Energy certificates rate the energy performance of a building
DEC - Display Energy Certificates (DECs) show the actual energy usage of a building, and it's Operational Rating, and provide information to the public for the energy efficiency of a building. (For Public Buildings)
The legislation will affect Property owners of portfolios, and also affects landlords and property managers. Many buildings will be affected by the introduction of Commercial Energy Certificates these include:

• EPC for Retail Units
• EPC for Shops
• EPC for Industrial Units
• EPC for Hotels
• EPC for New Build commercial units - SAP Assessors
• EPC for Rental Property
• EPC for Public Institutions
• EPC for Government Buildings

Exemptions to the requirement for a Commercial EPC, these exemptions include:

• Places of Worship (e.g. churches) 
• Temporary Buildings In Use For Less Than 2 Years (Portable Buildings and Site Buildings) 
• Low Energy Demand Buildings (example Farms Outbuildings and Barns) 

Stand Alone Buildings Less Than 50 sq m. (Small outbuildings like Sheds or Summer Houses)

Commercial property Energy Performance Certificates are valid for 10 years and must be made available to a prospective buyer or tenant before entering a contract for sale, or lease, and no later than the release of marketing materials for the property, or the request for a visit to the property being marketed for sale or lease. The survey is carried out (In England & Wales) using Simplified Building Energy Method (SBEM) which is also used for part L of the Building Regulations. A number of energy assessment procedures may be employed dependent on the type of building and its use. Such methods include SAP, SBEM procedures: