South Africa’s energy supply is primarily generated by coal,producing 82% of all our domestic power.As a country, we have a lot of work to do tomeet our UN Climate Promisegoal of net zero emissions by 2050. Given our collective need to meet these climate promises, the government has pushed all South Africans to become more sustainable and energy-efficient by mandating that certain buildings display an Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs). An EPC is a document that must be displayed and provides an energy rating for buildings, indicating how energy-efficient the property is. The EPC is an energy report that gives potential buyers, tenants, and owners information about the building’s energy consumption, potential energy costs, and environmental footprint. An EPC will show a rating between A (most efficient) and G (least efficient). The report will include recommendations on how to improve the energy efficiency of your building. But how are these EPC ratings calculated? How Are EPC Ratings Calculated? Inspections and assessments must be conducted by an accredited energy assessor authorised by the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI). These assessors usually have a professional background in building energy efficiency sector. For an accredited EPC inspection, you must hire a SANEDI-approved assessor or an organisation accredited to issue certificates. The on-site inspection and evaluation will review the following: The assessor will also collect and analyse the building’s energy consumption patterns (how much water and electricity is used on the property) and carbon emissions data to calculate an energy performance rating. As mentioned, this performance rating will be between A and G. An EPC is valid for five years. After this period, you will need to update your assessment rating. But who needs to apply for an EPC? Who Legally Needs An EPC In South Africa? Currently, only certain types of non-residential buildings need to display an EPC. Generally, buildings with a large footprint or that consume more energy need to apply for an EPC. Examples of public buildings and commercial properties that need an EPC are: Only buildings with a total net floor area of 2,000 square meters or more are required to obtain an EPC. Also, the EPC requirement generally applies to existing buildings that have been used for at least two years. Newly constructed buildings or those with a significant overhaul in energy-related infrastructure may be temporarily exempt until an entire two-year operating period has passed. While this EPC requirement seems to have come out of nowhere, it started back in mid-2010.