Camco

EPLabel is a UK government approved, web based DEC software tool. Its powerful functionality helps managers, owners and occupiers develop energy and carbon reduction strategies for a site or entire portfolio. And it is now completely free of charge to produce and lodge DECs.

With the first compliance year of the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) commencing April 2010, EPLabel presents an opportunity for businesses to start understanding their carbon position. For most organisations in the CRC, DEC data provides that critical granularity.

EPLabel user options include the following:

• PBEA’s (Public Building Energy Assessors) receive full access to their portfolio of sites and can produce provisional, unofficial and lodged DECs and Advisory Reports. The PBEA can access the EPLabel DEC Manager, enabling the production of reports and analysis of all the DECs in a PBEA’s portfolio
• PBEA Administrators can access the EPLabel DEC Manager and view or analyse the results for all the DECs generated by the assessors within their organisation
• A building manager’s license allows property owners or managers to view the results for their portfolio of buildings enabling them to confirm data entry, sign off completed DECs or advisory reports and review their building portfolio’s DECs and energy data
• A data collector’s licence allows a non-accredited person to enter building data into EPLabel, so numerous people can complete the task of producing a DEC. This feature also enables facility or energy managers to login to answer the questions that generate the advisory report
• Accreditation Scheme ‘Managers’ can view the inputs for DECs generated by the assessors within their accreditation scheme, making the task of monitoring and QA especially easy

Whether voluntary or for compliance, Display Energy Certificates (DECs) are a stimulus for achieving carbon, energy and cost savings in the UK’s existing buildings.

Special features of the EPLabel DEC software include:

• Web based tool with tailored functionality for DEC assessors, assessor managers, data collectors, building/energy managers and accreditation schemes
• Online, secure database that stores the data and results for every building in a portfolio
• Automatic carrying forward of data and results from current year to next year’s renewal
• DEC Manager portfolio analysis: customised league tables of energy ratings, carbon footprints, year-on-year improvements and DEC renewal dates, by user and by organisation
• Automated analysis of sites with multiple buildings and multi-tenanted buildings
• User log book to maintain audit trail of evidence for data entries for each building
• Space to record reasons for choice of carbon impact of each improvement measure
• Free-to-use, fully functioned web based training environment
• User support from the EPLabel Help desk - telephone (during working hours) and email
• Automated building address look up direct from the government’s property register and direct lodgement of completed DECs into the government Central Register of energy certificates.

Become a user

To become a user of EPLabel, the steps to follow are simple:

A. First register for the Training Universe
The training universe has all of the functions of the full-licence EPLabel tool, however the DECs it generates are watermarked 'Draft' and can’t be lodged. It’s available to all accredited PBEAs (Public Building Energy Assessors) and anybody training to become a PBEA or data collector. Additionally, on a case by case basis, logins are available to those who simply have a strong interest in exploring EPLabel. You can start becoming an EPLabel user by registering for the free training universe.

B. Then become a user in the EPLabel Live Universe
Users in the Live Universe are set up by an organisation’s PBEA administrator (PA). If your organisation wishes to start using the Live Universe, your PA should register for a PA login. Your PA can then setup logins for any number of PBEAs, Data Collectors or Building Managers.

For QA purposes, all PBEAs are asked to complete a simple case study of a DEC in the Training Universe to demonstrate their familiarity and ability with EPLabel. The case study can be downloaded from the Help section of EPLabel. PBEAs become approved EPLabel users after verification of the completed case study.

Training

EPLabel is exceedingly easy to use, however training webinars are available to support anybody wishing to become an approved EPLabel user. If you’re interested in receiving training, please email us at eplabel@camcoglobal.com

EP Label tariff

Using energy more efficiently is one of the most cost effective ways to cut carbon dioxide emissions. For the UK to achieve its carbon reduction targets, efforts must continue unabated to increase the energy efficiency of existing, non-domestic buildings.

To stimulate the production of DECs and improve energy efficiency in non-domestic buildings, Camco is offering its EPlabel software free of charge until 30 September 2010.

There is no obligation to use EPLabel after this date and you will be able to extract your data from the database free of charge. Camco will provide all users 30 days notice if there is to be any change to the tariff structure after 30 September 2010.

Please contact us if you wish to discuss our licensing arrangements. We have several tariff structures including fee per use, annual licence fees and volume discounting.

User support

Detailed user manuals are available to registered users of both the Training Universe and full-licence EPLabel, within the ‘Help’ tab of the tool.

Our support team operate a Help Desk, with both email and phone support. In addition, we can also offer ongoing training webinars for all registered users of EPLabel.

Help Desk contact details:
T: 0870 803 4822 or
E:EPLabel

Advisory services

DEC services
Camco has trained consultants on hand to produce DECs for organisations seeking external services. Additionally, we can provide DECs as part of a strategic approach to carbon management. Covering all regions of England and Wales and Northern Ireland, Camco has trained and accredited consultants available to generate DECs for those wishing to outsource DEC production. With a 20-year track record in reducing energy use and energy management, Camco's Advisory business provides a cost effective and independent service.

Carbon management
Camco can also provide DECs as part of a strategic approach to carbon management. For the past five years Camco has led the carbon management activities of over 200 public authorities and in the last three years has identified over 0.5m tonnes of CO2 reductions from public buildings, equivalent to energy savings of £75 million per annum.

For more information on our DEC or carbon management services, please visit our Energy efficiency management page