eNergy certificates
Easy as A,B,C,D,E,F,G?
Since last
on points of sale and lease. From october this year, all likely to be affected by this approach are NHS trusts
non-dwellings required EPCs on construction, sale or and schools.
month,
let. the EPC also includes recommendations on how the the aR may contain a range of possible improvements,
building’s energy performance might be improved. including cost-effective measures to improve the energy
Similar regulations apply in Scotland and Northern performance of the property. the report includes zero and
Display Energy
Ireland but with some differences in approach and low-cost operational and management improvements,
implementation dates. possible upgrades to the building fabric or services,
Certificates are
the purpose of DECs is to raise public awareness and opportunities for the installation of Low and Zero
of energy use and to inform visitors to public buildings Carbon (LZC) technologies.
a requirement in schools in
about the energy use of a building. DECs provide an the aR categorises the list of recommendations, by
operational energy rating (oER) of the building from a payback period:
to G, where a is very efficient and G is the least efficient, • Short-term payback (up to three years), for example
England and Wales. Chris
and are based on the actual amount of metered energy building energy management measures.
used by the building over a period of 12 months. • medium-term payback (three to seven years), for
Broadbent explains
the aim is to differentiate good from poor performers example upgrading building services.
and help users, visitors, investors, buyers and tenants • Long-term payback (more than seven years), for
decide which building or facility they should use, example LZC technologies.
NERGY PERFoRmaNCE occupy or purchase. Each category includes the energy assessor’s
E
Certificates (EPCs) for buildings in the oER of a building is a numerical indicator of its selection of the most suitable improvement measures for
England and Wales have, to date, actual annual carbon dioxide emissions benchmarked the building, generally between five and 10 measures.
been focused on the sale of homes. against buildings of similar use. the various types of the validity of the report is seven years. this is
However, they are now required for energy consumption from occupying a building must considered a reasonable interval during which the
other buildings, including schools. be brought together on a common basis so that the building occupier would have had sufficient opportunity
For England and Wales from performance of one building can be compared to others. to act on the recommended measures, following which
october this year, this means that Display Energy the UK has decided that the common unit should a review would be appropriate in the light of new
Certificates (DECs) are required to be displayed at all be carbon dioxide emissions, since this is a key driver technology and changes to things like energy prices.
times in public authority and institutional buildings of for energy policy. as discussed, the oER is shown on a the advice provided in the aR is intended to be
greater than 1,000 square metres that provide public scale from a to G, where a is the lowest emissions and G for information only. occupiers receiving an aR may
services to a large number of people. is the highest. also shown are the oERs for the previous choose to seek professional advice before reaching any
In addition, a valid advisory Report (aR) must be two years, which provide information decision on how to improve the energy performance of
available for inspection, which will explain how the on whether the energy performance of the building.
energy-efficiency of the building’s operations can be the building is improving. Look for assessors that are part of the
improved. the DEC is valid for one year while the aR to make it easier for public Communities and Local Government-
is renewed every seven years. Penalties will be imposed authorities with multiple buildings approved accreditation Scheme. this
for any failure to produce a valid DEC or aR. on one site to comply with the ensures that energy assessors and internal area, the energy consumed over the year, and
It comes after the implementation of the EU Energy legislation, a site-based approach their reports can be relied upon. details of assets that affect energy consumption. SecEd
Performance of Buildings Directive in England and for the first year is to be allowed to calculate the oER and
Wales, which involves two types of certificate for non- where it is not possible to produce produce the DEC for your • Chris Broadbent is from building consultants BRE.
dwellings – DECs to give a rating based on the actual individual DECs. this means building, the energy assessor
energy used by the building, and EPCs to rate the that only one DEC will need to will need to have access
Further information
intrinsic energy performance of the building. be produced based on the total to information about the to find an energy assessor, you can contact the
the EPC is required when a building is constructed, energy consumption and floor building, including the Communities and Local Government helpline on 0845
sold or let, and this has to be renewed every 10 years area of all the buildings on activities for which 365 2468 or visit www.communities.gov.uk/epbd and
and must be available to potential purchasers or tenants the site. Public bodies most it is used, the gross www.epcregister.com
Notes and jottings Psycho babble
Ghosts in the Gallery What is normal?
I’m at Polka theatre in Wimbledon, eclectic Where should staff conferences, professional Several months ago I spoke to a counsellor at a well the opportunity to learn, and a society that accepts
children’s theatre in an imaginatively converted development events and the like take place? In your known boys’ public school, who had previously gratuitous violence and abuse as the norm. there
church and one of the most civilised places in own school, at your local authority’s professional worked as a teacher in a state school renowned for is no teacher in the land who would not welcome a
London. the show is Ghosts in the Gallery, a development centre, or in a hotel? Surely if you want its difficult pupils. Because of her background in return to a respectful learning environment. Standards
wittily entertaining and educative piece set in the it to be residential the latter is the only option. psychology, she was regularly given classes with the must go up, and maybe it is time that zero tolerance
National Portrait Gallery at Halloween when all Kent, for example, closed both its unlovely seaside most problematic students. after several years of this was established in every school.
the figures emerge from their frames for a party. B, residential centres – with their peeling paint, shared routine, she realised that she no longer knew what there are two ways that I suggest beginning this
played by Patricia thompson, is a teenager who has bedrooms, draughty bathrooms and salty food – around was “normal”. She had become almost “immune” process. the first is to get your hands on a series of
accidentally got locked in the gallery. 1990 on the grounds that it is more cost-effective to to poor behaviour, and lowered her expectations vintage educational films from the 1940s and 1950s,
a promising young actor, Patricia is still a student hire premises such as hotels or conference centres accordingly – and regularly. which highlight the importance of school pride and
at Francis Xavier Sixth Form College in the when necessary than paying to maintain a this was, she decided, a dangerous downward rules – in often imaginative ways. Included in the set
London Borough of Wandsworth. With staffed establishment 24/7. spiral, and she requested a class of “good” kids for a are Holiday from the Rules (1959), How Quiet Helps
her sights set on drama school, it was and we all know how valuable a year, to re-establish what should be normal at School (1953), Maintaining Classroom Discipline
quite a fillip for her to be cast in a residential training session can be. patterns of behaviour. Her first term (1947), School Rules: How They Help Us
professional show alongside seasoned You get right away from day-to-day with the better-adjusted students was, (1953), and How About School Spirit (1958).
adult actors. Before transferring to matters and can give the, possibly she said, gobsmacking. teaching was they are guaranteed to raise a very loud
Francis Xavier, Patricia went to very complex, matter in hand your once again a delight, rather than a laugh from most students, but they
Ricards Lodge High School in the full attention. But you are, surely, daily battle – this was how children cannot fail to impress upon them the
London Borough of merton. entitled to a room to yourself and should behave. dramatic changes that have occurred.
So I’m delighted to see that a year a bathroom? there is no doubt that if standards they are, if nothing else, a point
8 group from Ricards Lodge – a girls’ But that didn’t stop the media decline, we become accustomed to of discussion, and a justification for
school with specialist status in performing having a field day last month about them, and mentally adjust. Even changing the rules in a positive
and visual arts – has done an art/history Edensor technology College in Stoke- the most tightly disciplined school direction. You can buy or rent
project inspired by Ghosts in the Gallery. on-trent, which carefully booked, is forced to make allowances for online (http://movies.yahoo.
Some lovely portraits drawn and expansively 10 months in advance, a residential kids who push the boundaries, and com/movie/1809861667/details).
captioned by the Ricards Lodge students conference for its staff in a hotel in to adopt measures to deal with Second, I suggest that you
(and other schools) are hanging in Polka’s marbella because, out of season, it societal influences. show footage of schools in the
foyer where they make a fascinating was cheaper than rip-off Britain. In the Violence, swearing, truancy, developing world, where parents
display. Patricia must be a good role end, you remember, media pressure alcohol and other substance abuse often give up food and other
model for those younger girls too. led to the last-minute cancellation. and complete disrespect may necessities to allow their children
Now we hear that the school had to pay surprise (stun, perhaps) us in the to attend school; where the students
Interesting things are happening at almost the entire cost anyway – so just first instance, but as the behaviour truly value the education they receive,
Waingels College in Wokingham, which what did the media “outrage” achieve? continues, we seek new ways of dealing and show boundless gratitude for the meagre
specialises in maths and computing. Kirk and as for one newspaper’s prissily with it and, ultimately, fail to consider it options available to them. See UNICEF online (
Wootton, who has been teaching for five reporting the other day that a training event quite so shocking. It becomes a fact of life. In www.unicef.org), and ask about its Schools for
years, is looking for ways of making science for over 100 Derby headteachers was held last some ways it even becomes acceptable. africa campaign. they can send images and
more inspiring because the country needs more month in a hotel 20 miles away at the cost – shock take a look back at video footage of classroom information that are no less than shocking.
students to go on to study for science degrees. He horror – of £35,000, can they not do the sums? activity just 10 years ago. and then 10 years before there is no simple solution, but unless we work
has transformed his laboratory into a complete learning that works out at less £350 per delegate and that. the transition is not just remarkable, but together towards raising standards significantly,
environment with molecular models, prisms and every sounds pretty fair value to me. are there people out frightening. While teenagers of every description things can only become worse. Remind yourselves
element of the periodic table hanging from the ceiling. there who: a) don’t want teachers and schools to have always found ways to flout the rules, there was of the core values that all human beings should
and the imaginative Kirk has also spotted a good improve continuously and/or b) think a scruffy hall a certain level of respect for authority. have, such as respect, responsibility, honour, pride,
opportunity to bring key stage 3 science to life by and a free stale biscuit is good enough for this long- Whether they were afraid of the repercussions integrity, empathy, tolerance, and selflessness. How
developing what he calls the CSI Waingels project. suffering profession, although no other comparable at home, or frightened of corporal punishment or many are on display in your school? How many
He is training his students as crime scene investigation one would tolerate it? expulsion, is anyone’s guess. What is clear is that should be? Let’s start there.
technicians. the project will culminate in a forensics there is an overwhelming sense of disrespect for
day when students will have to solve a “murder”. Even • Susan Elkin is a freelance education journalist and teachers and education, something that stems partly • Karen Sullivan is a bestselling author, psychologist
the head and deputy heads are involved. former teacher. from a celebrity culture in which children do not value and childcare expert. Email kesullivan@aol.com
SecEd • November 13 2008 
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