Outlined in a consultation published yesterday the Department for Communities and Local Government, DCLG, said it was considering ‘removing the legal requirement’ for DECs in public buildings.

Ross Anderson, Director of ICOM said “Public buildings by their very nature are visited by lots of people, be they town halls, swimming pools or schools; drawing attention to the energy efficiency of the building helps to focus the owners attention and provides a visual impetus to improve.

Indeed the DCLG consultation quotes a Government study which shows that between 2008 and 2009 energy consumption fell by 2% more in public buildings with DECs than comparable private sector buildings.

The Government needs to decide if it is serious about improving energy efficiency and meeting our carbon reduction targets. On one hand they propose removing DEC’s, which by their own admission have had a positive effect on efficiency yet at the same time they are introducing new regulations. The Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) regulation mandates that all large businesses in the UK undertake comprehensive assessments of energy use and energy efficiency opportunities at least once every four years, the deadline for the first compliance period is 5 December 2015. The proposed abolishing of DECs does not send a good signal to these companies regarding the need for their ESOS.

ICOM will be responding to the consultation.’