Energy and Calculations
Display Energy Certificate
A Display Energy Certificate (DEC) shows the actual energy use of a building occupied by a public authority and frequently visited by the public. Schools, councils, hospitals and other public bodies need one for qualifying buildings. We arrange an accredited DEC assessor and the advisory report.
What is it? A DEC rates a building's operational energy use, based on its meter readings over a year, and must be displayed where the public can see it. Do you need one? GOV.UK guidance says the rules apply to buildings occupied by a public authority, larger than 250m² and frequently visited by the public.
If your building qualifies, send us the address, floor area and meter data and we will arrange the assessment.
Most of the work depends on good meter data. Buildings with reliable monthly or half-hourly readings are straightforward. Where meters are shared with other buildings or missing, the assessor needs to agree how use is apportioned, which takes longer.
How the Display Energy Certificate service works
You send the address, floor area and how the building is used.
We confirm whether a DEC is required and which validity period applies.
You supply 12 months of energy meter readings for the building.
The assessor visits to confirm floor area, use and services.
The DEC and advisory report are produced and lodged on the government register.
We send you the certificate to display, and a reminder before it expires.
For buildings with a 12 month certificate, we can arrange the following year's renewal using the next year's meter readings.
Coordinating project evidence for Display Energy Certificate
Treat the energy records as a building dataset rather than a collection of recent bills. Check that account numbers, meter serial numbers and building names agree, especially after a supplier change. Mark estimated readings and explain any gap instead of silently replacing it with an assumption. Where a campus has a central boiler, provide information about the supply arrangement and any submetering. The assessor can then identify what further evidence is needed. Keep a copy of the agreed dataset with the facilities records so a later assessment can start from a clear boundary and a traceable consumption history.
Information to prepare for Display Energy Certificate
- Electricity, gas and other fuel records covering the assessment period, with meter references.
- Floor plans or measured area records identifying the building boundary.
- An occupancy and operating-hours schedule, including shared or separately managed spaces.
- Details of on-site generation, exported energy and any shared supplies.
- A site contact who can explain meter arrangements and arrange safe access.
Comparing project inputs for Display Energy Certificate
| Project input | Practical check |
|---|---|
| Dedicated building meters | Reconcile readings with supplier records. |
| Campus supply | Identify which buildings share the incoming energy. |
| Mixed occupancy | Agree the assessed boundary before assembling records. |
(Source: GOV.UK: A guide to Display Energy Certificates and advisory reports for public buildings)
What affects the cost of Display Energy Certificate
Display Energy Certificate costs depend on floor area, building use and the condition of consumption records. Shared meters, several occupiers or incomplete bills need extra investigation. The assessment can only progress reliably once the reporting boundary and usable energy data have been agreed with the facilities team.
Price: [[TO SUPPLY: Display Energy Certificates price from]]. Turnaround: [[TO SUPPLY: Display Energy Certificates turnaround time]].
DEC requirement and validity checker
How this tool decides
Occupied by a public authority?
- Yes
- No
Frequently visited by the public?
- Yes
- No
Total useful floor area (m²)
Enter your measured or project figure.
No
The stated building does not meet all the DEC scope conditions; confirm any separate EPC duties.
The guide requires public-authority occupation, frequent public visits and floor area greater than 250 m². GOV.UK: Display Energy Certificates, scope and validity
Price on request: no survey scope has been selected for this answer.
Next step: Send the project information for a scoped quote.
Deadline: Agree the project submission date before booking.
No
The stated building does not meet all the DEC scope conditions; confirm any separate EPC duties.
The guide requires public-authority occupation, frequent public visits and floor area greater than 250 m². GOV.UK: Display Energy Certificates, scope and validity
Price on request: no survey scope has been selected for this answer.
Next step: Send the project information for a scoped quote.
Deadline: Agree the project submission date before booking.
No DEC is required under this floor-area test because the building is not larger than 250 m².
GOV.UK requires floor area greater than 250 m², so exactly 250 m² is outside this test. GOV.UK: Display Energy Certificates, scope and validity
Price on request: no survey scope has been selected for this answer.
Next step: Send the project information for a scoped quote.
Deadline: Agree the project submission date before booking.
A DEC is required, valid for 12 months, with an advisory report valid for seven years.
The GOV.UK guide sets these validity periods where total useful floor area is more than 1,000 m². GOV.UK: Display Energy Certificates, scope and validity
Typical project: £100 to £180 per certificate.
Indicative only. This is a typical UK market range based on prices published by other providers, checked November 2026. It is not a quote. Prices exclude VAT unless stated. Contact us for an accurate price for your project.
Checked November 2026.
Next step: Send the project information for a scoped quote.
Deadline: Keep a valid DEC displayed and renew it before expiry.
Otherwise / result rule
A DEC and advisory report are required, both valid for ten years.
The GOV.UK guide sets ten-year validity above 250 m² and up to 1,000 m², including exactly 1,000 m². GOV.UK: Display Energy Certificates, scope and validity
Typical project: £100 to £180 per certificate.
Indicative only. This is a typical UK market range based on prices published by other providers, checked November 2026. It is not a quote. Prices exclude VAT unless stated. Contact us for an accurate price for your project.
Checked November 2026.
Next step: Send the project information for a scoped quote.
Deadline: Keep a valid DEC displayed and advisory report in place.
What to have ready
- Electricity, gas and other fuel records covering the assessment period, with meter references.
- Floor plans or measured area records identifying the building boundary.
- An occupancy and operating-hours schedule, including shared or separately managed spaces.
- Details of on-site generation, exported energy and any shared supplies.
- A site contact who can explain meter arrangements and arrange safe access.
How we work this out
The figures shown are indicative. They are ranges taken from prices that UK providers of this service have published, and they are here to help you budget. They are not a quote, an offer or a price guarantee from National Building Compliance.
Your actual price depends on details this tool cannot see, including the size and layout of the building, how many units there are, access, location, how complete your drawings are, and how quickly you need the work. It may be lower or higher than the range shown.
Unless a figure says otherwise, prices exclude VAT. The date each range was last checked is shown beside it.
For an accurate, fixed price, send us your project details. We will confirm the scope and quote before any work is booked.
Indicative market costs
| Case | Unit | Indicative range |
|---|---|---|
| Typical project | per certificate | £100 to £180 Indicative only. This is a typical UK market range based on prices published by other providers, checked November 2026. It is not a quote. Prices exclude VAT unless stated. Contact us for an accurate price for your project. |
Checked November 2026.
Display Energy Certificates for typical project in England typically costs £100 to £180 per certificate before VAT, based on prices published by UK providers and checked in November 2026. This is indicative and not a quote.
Indicative only. This is a typical UK market range based on prices published by other providers, checked November 2026. It is not a quote. Prices exclude VAT unless stated. Contact us for an accurate price for your project.
When Display Energy Certificate is needed
The GOV.UK guide to Display Energy Certificates and advisory reports for public buildings explains that, from 9 July 2015, the rules apply to buildings occupied by a public authority that are larger than 250m² and frequently visited by the public.(Source: GOV.UK: A guide to Display Energy Certificates and advisory reports for public buildings; GOV.UK: Find an energy certificate)
The same guide says that where the total useful floor area is more than 1,000m², the DEC is valid for 12 months and the accompanying advisory report for 7 years. Where the floor area is between 250m² and 1,000m², the DEC and advisory report are valid for 10 years.
The public authority occupying the building is responsible for having a valid DEC displayed and an advisory report in place.
The guide explains that a DEC shows the energy performance of a building based on its actual energy consumption, while the advisory report sets out recommendations for improving it. A DEC is separate from an EPC and does not replace one where the building is also sold or let.
Records supplied with Display Energy Certificate
You receive the DEC, which shows the operational rating and should be displayed prominently where the public can see it, and the advisory report, which recommends ways to cut energy use. Both are lodged on the government register.(Source: GOV.UK: A guide to Display Energy Certificates and advisory reports for public buildings)
Facilities teams in schools and councils often use the advisory report as a simple list of next steps for budgets, since it ties recommendations to the building's own energy use.
What the Display Energy Certificate report records
- Building identity and the boundary covered by the assessment.
- A record of the consumption period used for the calculation.
- Identification of fuels and meters included in the assessment.
- Floor-area and occupancy information supporting the calculation.
- Certificate and advisory report references for the facilities record.
Questions about Display Energy Certificate
Do I need a Display Energy Certificate?
If the building is occupied by a public authority, larger than 250m² and frequently visited by the public, GOV.UK guidance says yes.
How is a DEC different from an EPC?
A DEC shows actual energy use from meter readings. An EPC shows the building's theoretical performance and is needed for sale, letting or new construction.
How long does a DEC last?
GOV.UK guidance says 12 months for buildings over 1,000m², and 10 years for buildings between 250m² and 1,000m².
Do schools need a DEC?
A school building occupied by a public authority that meets the size and public visiting tests needs one.
How much does a DEC cost?
It depends on the building and the data available. Published prices: [[TO SUPPLY: price from]]. Turnaround: [[TO SUPPLY: turnaround time]].
Who is responsible for the DEC?
The public authority occupying the building. Where several bodies share a building, agree between them who arranges the certificate and keeps the meter data.
Request a quote
Tell us about the project once. We will confirm which services apply and send a quote.
All fields marked * are required.