Commercial buildings are scoring an average ‘C’ energy rating, according to early results from the introduction of Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) to the commercial sector.

Since the introduction of EPCs in 2007 nearly 800,000 buildings have had an energy assessment - including more than 500 large commercial buildings.New information three months after the launch of EPCs to commercial buildings with a total floor area greater than 10,000m2 shows that top five recommendations given by assessors for improving energy efficiency have been:

• Introducing more energy efficient lighting
• Introducing solar control measures - reflective coating, shading devices to windows - to reduce cooling demand
• Introducing electronic control gear to improve efficiency of fluorescent lighting
• Installing solar water heating
• Undertaking a review of boiler plant to look for energy efficiency improvements

If businesses undertake these recommended improvement significant energy savings can be made and reductions in CO2 emissions.