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IES <Virtual Environment> Live e-training

Trainee notes

IES <DEC Assessor> INTRODUCTION

IES <DEC Assessor> Software

IES <DEC Assessor>, is a free web-based Display Energy Certificate (DEC) application offering the ability to create and lodge DEC’s and the related Advisory Reports (AR’s). The software also enables the user to manage the cases created.

This user-friendly alternative to the Government ORCalc software, offers a number of advantages, which include:

• Free software • No restriction on the number of benchmark categories • User friendly input • Web-based access • Personal user area to store and manage DEC submissions

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In this session you will be shown the following:

1. How to generate DEC’s (Display Energy Certificates) and Advisory Reports for your building and how to lodge the final DEC and AR.

2. What you need to know should you wish to sit the IES <DEC Assessor> Accreditation exam

3. How to get help and support.

These notes accompany the e-training lecture and act as a reference point for your further study. In order to become an accredited DEC Assessor which will enable you to produce DEC’s and AR’s, an exam will need to be undertaken. IES will be running exams in accordance with UK accreditation schemes – please contact us for further details. Once you have passed the exam you will be given an Energy Assessor Number which is required to lodge DEC’s and AR’s. The trainer will show you how to perform various functions as shown in the following pages, and images are included to assist you. These images will also help to act as a memory jogger after the session. For more detailed help you can use the Help menu within the IES <DEC Assessor> application or email us on support@iesve.com

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OVERVIEW What is a Display Energy Certificate? Display Energy Certificates (DEC) have been introduced by the Government to increase awareness of energy use and are required from 1st October 2008 in all public buildings above 1000m2. Valid for 1 year a DEC shows the energy performance of a building using actual annual energy consumption information and calculates the CO2 emissions as a result of the actual energy use. “DEC’s provide an energy rating of the building from A to G, where A is very efficient and G is the least efficient.” The occupier of the building is responsible for obtaining a DEC.

Penalties

A penalty of £500 can be enforcement by the local authority for failing to display a DEC in a visible place at all times. If you do not have a valid AR a £1000 penalty will apply.

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DEC Documentation

It is advisable that you familiarise yourself with a number of CLG and Government publications relating to the production of DEC’s and Advisory Reports. These include “Improving the energy efficiency of our buildings – A guide to Display Energy Certificates and Advisory Reports for Public Buildings”, The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive – Article 1-10, “The Government methodology for the production of Operational Ratings” and the newly published CIBSE TM46 – Energy Benchmarks. CLG “Improving the energy efficiency of our buildings – A guide to Display Energy Certificates and Advisory Reports for Public Buildings”, this document can be downloaded using the link below: http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/20.pdf CIBSE Briefing 6 – The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive can be downloaded using the link below: http://www.mimarlarodasi.org.tr/UIKDocs%5Cenergyperformancesum.pdf CLG “The Government methodology for the production of Operational Ratings, Display Energy Certificates and Advisory Reports”, this document can be downloaded using the link below: http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/998942.pdf CIBSE TM46 – Energy Benchmarks has recently been released and can be purchased from the CIBSE website.

You may also be interested in “CIBSE Guide F – Energy efficiency in buildings”

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IES <DEC Assessor> Software The IES <DEC Assessor> software is a web based application, available at www.iesdec.com. In order to use the software, firstly you will need to register. Click on the “Register” button, enter your name, address, Energy Assessor Certificate number and Professional Indemnity Insurance details(if applicable). You will also be asked to agree to terms and conditions. The EA certificate number and PI Insurance details are only required prior to DEC lodgement.

When you have completed the registration form click SAVE. You will then be sent an email to acknowledge receipt of your registration request. In order to complete your registration you will need to click on the link in the email and you will be prompted to create a username and password. Click CONFIRM. Your account has now been set up successfully.

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CASES To create a new DEC Case or to review a previously saved Case, click on the CASES Menu at the top of the screen. The heading will turn red when it is in use. Click on the Case List Menu, Cases which have already been created will be listed and can be reviewed or edited.

To create a new case, click on “New Case” button and fill in the fields as shown in the screenshot above. The Type of Case to be created is set to DEC and AR as default, therefore, if you only what to produce a DEC or alternatively an AR, set the Type field accordingly.

The UPRN or Unique Property Reference Number is available from the Central Register (www.ndepcregister.com). It is required for all DEC and/or Advisory Reports.

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The Nominated Date defines the start of the 12 month validity period over which the Operational Rating will be calculated. This date should be no later than 3 months after the end of the assessment period.

Internal Environment - how is the majority of the building conditioned, i.e. air conditioning, mechanical ventilation or natural ventilation. Secondary Descriptor – these are systems that provide the environment, i.e. radiators, convectors. When the building occupier data has been entered, the DEC section of the IES <DEC Assessor> software should then be completed, click on DEC Menu. The first section in the DEC section to be completed is Benchmark Categories. This is where the user can identify the main activities within the building. There is no restriction on the number of benchmark categories that can be created, however only 1 main Benchmark can be set.

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CIBSE TM46 – Energy Benchmarks has recently been released and details what building energy benchmarks are, how the data is used, and how they were developed. As well as the benchmarks, it provides details of separable energy uses and includes weather and occupancy adjustments.

Floor Area The Total Usable Floor Area (TUFA) is the total area of all the enclosed spaces measured to the internal face of the external walls, that is to say it is the gross floor area as measured in accordance with the Building Regulations. In this convention:

a. the area of sloping surfaces such as staircases, galleries, raked auditoria, and tiered terraces sould be taken as their area on the plan; and

b. areas that are not enclosed such as open floors, covered ways and balconies are excluded.

(A guide to DEC and AR’s for public buildings – Annex A, section 4)

The TUFA should be measured in accordance with the building regulations (Approved Document L2A, page 28). If the Office benchmark is selected the user can enter the Net Lettable Area (NFA) for the space. If a Retail benchmark has been selected the Sales Floor Area (SFA) may be entered. The NFA and SFA will be converted by the software. Without accurate measurements the building occupier would need to commission a surveyor or qualified person to carry out a survey in accordance with the RICS guidance. (Guidance: Code of measuring – 6

th edition – 2007 RICS)

Unconditioned Floor Area should be accounted within the Benchmark Categories section. An unconditioned area is considered to be an “unconditioned accessible space”, i.e. attics, basements, plant rooms. The area will be included for within the GIA. Total area of DEC Assessment (TADA) is the area used in the OR and technical table calculations. TADA also includes accessible unconditioned spaces however excludes seperable energy use areas. Work through the fields and fill in each one. If there are questions unanswered these will be highlighted in RED.

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When the Benchmark Categories have been set up, the next section is Past DEC Data. For this year no past DEC information will exist as they have only just been introduced therefore if an EPC exists for the building an Asset Rating can be input into this section.

Degree Day Correction The Degree Day Correction figures are automatically generated by the software and cannot be edited. When the postcode for the building has been entered the appropriate weather data is used in the DEC creation process. The Common Information Point (CIP) file contains information on approved benchmark categories, approved monthly degree day information and a table showing the appropriate weather regions within the UK. The CIP file is updated every month.

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Occupancy Correction details Extended occupancy hours can be taken into account if the hours are greater than the standard weekly hours for the benchmark category. Documentary evidence must be available to the Energy Assessor to justify extended occupancy. (Methodology for producing OR’s, DEC’s and AR’s - 4.1.7)

This information will need to be provided by the building manager showing either:

• The number of hours per year that the number of recorded occupants exceeds 25% of the nominal maximum occupancy (where the nominal maximum occupancy is defined)

• The number of hours per year that the premises are fully open to the public, according to published opening hours.

(Methodology for producing OR’s, DEC’s and AR’s. - 3.4.2)

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Energy Split Correction Where Electricity is selected as the Main Heating Fuel under the benchmark categories the Electrical Energy Split section becomes available The Energy Assessor must decide whether electricity for heating purposes is separately or not separately measured. If not separately measured enter measured meter readings (or estimates from utility company) for electricity and start / end measurement dates. Where a proportion of the fuel is used for separable heating, the EA must enter both Heating Electricity consumption (kWh) and Electricity consumption (kWh) and the associated start / end measurement dates.

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Energy Measurement Periods

The energy assessment period is calculated over 365 days. Either the start of end date of the heating fuel measurement period should be selected, whichever is closest to the meter reading dates. The main heating fuel measurement period over a 365 day period has a tolerance of +/- 31 days. If the main heating fuel is electricity the tolerance is +/- 15 days. For Separables the tolerance is +/- 7 days.

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IES <DEC Assessor> simplifies the date entry for the user. When the start date is set the calendar will automatically highlight the date for the following year, i.e. 365 days from the start date.

It is important that the Energy Assessor understands the significance of dates within the calendar and the associated colour coding. As there are a number of tolerances set on date entry, the colour coding is explained below.

• Greyed out Invalid. i.e. User cannot set an end date before a start date.

• Red text on black Will produce a G rating as the date is out of range with the assessment dates

• Red text on grey The date is misaligned with the assessment dates and may cause a warning

• Black text The date is aligned correctly

There are two instances where red text on a black background does not lead to a G rating and are as follows.

• In the Separable Energy Consumption section, the separable will be excluded if the date is in the red on black area

• In the On-site Renewables panel, the renewable will be excluded if the date is in the red on black area

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Energy Consumption The amount of energy consumed for each fuel type/energy type in the building must be entered and the start/end dates entered. ESTIMATED: If metered measurements are available select Y, select N if figure is estimated. Estimated energy consumption will result in the building being given an Operational Rating of 200 which will give the building a “G” Rating on the DEC. The will then encourage occupiers to ensure they have adequate information for the following year.

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Separable Energy Consumption Particular areas in your building may be used for activities that are significantly more intensive in their use of energy. Enter details of allowed separately metered energy uses, i.e. server rooms, bakery ovens, sports flood lighting, trading floor, blast chilling or freezing and furnace or heating treatment. The measured seperable anergy use energy demand will not be recorded on the DEC certificate, but will be shown on the more comprhensive Technical Table. (methodology doc – 3.3.2) Some separable energy usage may be discounted from the Operational Ratings Calculations. Separables which are allowed for are detailed for each benchmark category and building type in the CIBSE benchmark tables.

CIBSE TM46 - Operational Rating Energy Benchmarks als shows separable information.

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On-site Renewables On-site renewables or low and zero carbon technologies are not defined as a default therefore if the building uses any renewables these will need to be entered, click “Add Renewable”. OSR and LZC include aerogenerators, photovoltaics and low carbon technologies such as biomass boilers, heat pumps and CHP. To include OSR and LZC you will require the metered energy output for the assessment period.

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The AR (Advisory Report) section now needs to be completed. Advisory reports are valid for 7 years. Within this section the EA is required to answer a number of questions relating to the building condition, servicing and management. If there are any recommendations which can be made to improve the energy efficiency of the building and/or reduce CO2 emissions, these will be detailed by the Energy Assessor in the Advisory Report. As before each section needs to be completed. Unanswered questions will be highlighted in RED

Payback Recommendations

Using the information that has been entered into the AR section, a number of pay back recommendations are listed. The EA must decide which options would provide a short, medium or long term impact on the energy efficiency of the building The recommendations appear in three tables:

• A short term payback (0-3 years) for example building energy management measures

• A medium term payback (3-7 years) for example upgrading building services

• A long term payback (more than 7 years) for example LZC technologies (methodologyfor producing OR, DEC’s and AR’s – section 6.2)

“The advisory report may contain a range of possible improvements, including cost effective measures that may be implemented in order to improve the energy performance of the building. The report includes zero and low cost operational and management improvements, possibly upgrades to the building fabric and services, and opportunities for the installation of Low and Zero Carbon (LZC) technologies”. (CLG - A guide to DEC’s and AR’s for public buildings - page 16)

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When both the DEC and AR sections have been completed, click on Generate Menu and then Generate Combined DEC and AR button to obtain the DEC and/or AR.

A technical table and a lodgeable xml file are also created and can be downloaded. DEC/AR documents are not stored in the software however as they can be downloaded via a zip file they cann be stored on your own PC. MY PROFILE This section gives the users details which were set up in the registration process. These can be viewed or updated at any time.

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HELP

A comprehensive Help section is provided within the Help section of the IES <DEC Assessor> Software. This section should be referred to firstly before contacting IES as the answer to your query may be detailed.

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SUPPORT

Support credits can be purchased online from http://www.iesve.com/content/default.asp?page=s173