The Energy Act 2011
The Energy Act 2011
The Energy Act 2011 received royal accent in October 2011 and provides legislation to enable increased implementation of energy efficiency measures for commercial (including all non-domestic property) and residential property. The Energy Act 2011 includes provisions relating to the following.1. The Green Deal
The Green Deal has been introduced through the Energy Act 2011. It is intended to be a solution to building owners and tenants not investing in energy saving measures in residential and commercial properties. Read more about Green Deal here.2. Private Rented Sector
Tenant request to introduce a Green Deal initiative
Scottish Ministers may introduce legislation that from April 2015, private residential landlords will be unable to refuse a tenant's reasonable request for consent to energy efficiency improvements where a finance package such as the Green Deal or the Energy Company Obligation is available.
In England & Wales the secretary of state must ensure that from April 2016, private residential landlords will be unable to refuse a tenant's reasonable request for consent to energy efficiency improvements where a finance package such as the Green Deal or the Energy Company Obligation is available.
Acheiving a minimum EPC rating
In Scotland the 2011 Act will give Scottish Ministers powers to allow that only properties that reach a certain EPC benchmark can be leased or sold after 2018.
In England & Wales the secretary of state must make regulations not to allow property to be rent out that does not reach a minimum energy efficiency standard (the intention is for this to be set in England & Wales at EPC rating 'E').
3. Energy Company Obligations
Existing powers to enable new Energy Company Obligations to be created to reduce carbon emissions. These new obligations will work alongside the Green Deal finance offer by targeting appropriate measures at those households likely to need additional support – in particular those containing thos on low incomes and in hard-to-treat housing.
DOWNLOAD: Energy Act 2011
