Business cost reduction specialists focusing on telecommunications, energy and water services
Display Energy Certificate (DEC) software licensed by Communities and Local Government (CLG)
24 July 2008
Developed to assist public sector organisations meet the requirement to produce Display Energy Certificates (DEC's) and Advisory Reports (AR's), digitalenergy became the first independent software solution to be approved for the production of operational ratings.
With October 1st looming for occupiers of public buildings with floor areas greater than 1000m2 time is of the essence. At the recent 'Countdown to DEC' events organised by Asset Skills and Communities and Local Government speakers from CLG, Faber Maunsell and i-Prophets energy services addressed the concerns of the people responsible for some of the 50,000 buildings requiring certificates
Specialists i-Prophets energy services designed the online approach as a user friendly, intuitive solution to the preparation of DEC's and AR's in large or small quantities. As a completely scalable solution it enables information to be collated in a common portal, enabling a co-operative approach to the production of certificates and reports. Lodgement and quality of documents remains the responsibility of the accredited energy assessor but digitalenergy enables a simple approach for the assessor to enlist the support of others.
"In typical buildings information resides in different departments, with different people safeguarding it. Using digitalenergy as a common framework information can be collated much quicker and assembled ready for calculation of the operational rating" said Richard Hipkiss, Sales and Marketing Director, "The approach not only makes year one easier but it takes a forward thinking approach to the renewal of certificates, organisations do not need to panic again next year!"
The approach is unique in that on the creation of a new DEC a building logbook is created for the building enabling an audit report to be created during the initial assessment period that can be maintained and updated throughout the year and support the drive for a lower operational rating in subsequent years.
A certificate requires the display of a simple A to G rating of assessed buildings energy efficiency, with a previous two years history to enable performance to be visible to the public. In the online format digitalenergy goes one stage further with the visualisation of an entire portfolio of buildings with three years history, enabling a quick comparison for decision making.
Creating a structured approach to the process of creating not only the certificate but also the advisory report digitalenergy creates a streamlined end to end process. From creation of the building with a unique property reference number (UPRN) to the automated lodgement of the certificate and report with the accreditation scheme at the click of a button, production of documents can be carried out in a positive manner to enable Facilities and Energy Managers to get back to concentrating on the reduction of energy usage.
"With its work flow approach digitalenergy will enable the processing of multiple buildings requiring DEC's at the same time making the 1st October an achievable date event for authorities with large numbers of buildings" said Richard Hipkiss of i-Prophets.
A complete DEC service using digitalenergy software is now available from Smith Bellerby, who are an approved Energy Partner of i-Prophets Energy Services