Non-domestic buildings: assessment of energy performance and emissions
119.Section 63 requires the Scottish Ministers to make regulations providing for the assessment of (a) the energy performance of non-domestic buildings, and (b) emissions of greenhouse gases produced by or associated with such buildings or with activities carried out in such buildings, and to make regulations requiring owners of such buildings to take steps to improve the energy performance of buildings and to reduce emissions.
120.Subsection (2) sets out (without prejudice to the generality of the power in subsection (1)) some of the detail which may be included in the regulations, including: the kinds of non-domestic buildings covered; persons who are required to obtain assessments; time periods for carrying out assessments; procedures and methodologies for assessing energy performance and emissions; persons who can carry out such assessments; the issuing of certificates following assessment; the form of any recommendations as to the improvement of the energy performance and reduction of emissions; the manner and periods within which steps must be taken with regard to such recommendations; the registration of certificates; the disclosure of information entered in the register; enforcement authorities; the keeping of records; enforcement of the regulations; and offences.
121.Subsection (3) makes provision about the enforcement authority provided for in the regulations and subsection (4) allows the regulations to provide for the functions of the enforcement authority to be exercised by two or more such authorities and also allows provision to be made about the functions of each of those authorities.
122.Subsection (5) allows the enforcement authority to levy charges to recover reasonable costs incurred by exercising the functions under the regulations and subsection (6) requires the Scottish Ministers to publish a report, within 12 months of section 63 coming into force. This will set out the measures they intend to take to reduce emissions from non-domestic buildings, and when they intend to make regulations to set out the form of recommendations and the manner and periods within which steps are to be taken to comply with the recommendations.
123.Subsection (7) defines “non-domestic building” as all buildings, other than buildings which are dwellings. Yards, gardens, outbuildings and other land or buildings associated with dwellings, and any common areas so associated, are also excluded from the meaning of “non-domestic building”.
