Energy certificates

As part of efforts to prevent global warming and promote sensible energy, moves are afoot to make public authorities (including schools) more accountable for the energy they use.

The Department for Communities and Local Government is advising that public authorities will need to have a valid Advisory Report on energy use and a Display Energy Certificate by April 2008. The penalty for non-compliance is £500 for failing to display a valid energy certificate and £1,000 for failing to have an Advisory Report.

The DCSF will be issuing guidance to schools. However, in the meantime the advice is to start collecting all energy consumption bills in order to form the basis for the report.

While the practical responsibility for this may well fall on bursar members, heads will have a global responsibility and governors will have a vicarious liability for any failings of senior staff.