Times of Malta, 23rd July 2008

The Cabinet last Monday approved the publication of the legal notice on the Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations 2008. The main change that is being proposed to the existing regulations on the energy performance of buildings is the requirement to have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for:

• All new buildings;

• Buildings larger than 1,000 m2 undergoing major renovation;

• Sale or rent of buildings.

Certain types of buildings are exempted from these requirements.

The EPC will be issued by registered assessors, that include architects or services engineers, including foreign ones from other EU member states, who will be required to attend a short training course.

As a result of the Kyoto Protocol, the EU set the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions as an important objective.

It is estimated that around 40 per cent of CO2 emissions derive from energy use in buildings. Directive 2002/91/EC on the Energy Performance of Buildings (EPBD) contains a package of mandatory measures des-igned to secure a significant reduction of such emissions from buildings.