EPC's are an outcome from the European Union Directive 2002/91/EC, inspired by the Kyoto Protocol that aimed at cutting back on energy consumption and ecological deterioration due to CO 2 emissions.
 
The Directive became European Law on 4 January 2003. Member States, including the UK, had three years in which to implement the Directive – i.e. the provisions had to be transposed into UK Regulations by January 2006. A transition period applies until January 2009 for States who did not have sufficient assessors by January 2006.

 

In N.Ireland, the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) is being implemented jointly by the Department of Finance and Personnel and the Department for Social Development.

HIPs ( Home Information Packs) will not be a requirement in NI, but EPCs will be produced as stand-alone documents. Articles 3-6 of the EPBD were implemented through an update to Building Regulations in November 2006. They became a legal requirement in N.Ireland on 30 June 2008.

It is a requirement when buildings are constructed, sold or rented out that an Energy Performance Certificate is made available by the owner to the prospective buyer or tenant. The Northern Ireland Executive intends to reduce Northern Ireland's carbon footprint as buildings that are more energy efficient should also be cheaper to run and be more attractive to prospective owners.