Some of the government鈥檚 newest buildings are among the least energy-efficient.

These shortcomings have been exposed by the introduction on October 1 of legislation requiring all public buildings over 1000m2 to display a certificate showing their energy efficiency.

Rather like the performance ratings on fridges, display energy certificate (DECs) rate a building鈥檚 energy efficiency on a sliding scale from A to G, with A the most energy efficient and G the worst.

The Home Office鈥檚 building at 2 Marsham Street, completed in 2005, only managed an F-grade operational rating. Parliament鈥檚 new office building, Portcullis House, completed in 2002 was awarded a G 鈥 the lowest possible.

Other government buildings are taking advantage of a get-out that provides a three-month window before the occupiers face a fine. No DEC certificate was on display in the Crown Prosecution鈥檚 head office at 50 Ludgate Hill, London. A spokesperson for the service said the office was still waiting to be assessed 鈥渂ecause there is a shortage of assessors鈥. She added: 鈥淭he deadline for DECs has been extended so we鈥檙e aiming for a 4 January 2009 deadline鈥.

It was a similar story for the Welsh Assembly building. 鈥淲e haven鈥檛 got a DEC. There is a delay in the accreditation team still being trained or recruited, whatever,鈥 said its spokesperson.

The Department of Communities and Local Government鈥檚 Eland House has been open for 10 years, yet it only managed an F despite reducing its gas use by 37% and electricity use by 22% last year. The department is using the advisory report provided with the DEC to develop an energy efficiency action plan to improve its rating.

A spokesperson said: 鈥淥ur rating at Eland House tells us we must clearly do better to make a difference to our energy performance.鈥

Some of the carbon reduction measures planned include improved air-conditioning, introduction of automated meter readings and voltage optimisation.

The spokesperson added: 鈥淭hese types of activity should take Eland House up to an E rating and towards a target D operation rating.鈥

Operational ratings: a sample of public buildings

  • London mayor鈥檚 City Hall E
  • CLG鈥檚 Eland House F
  • Defra E
  • Goole JobCentre Plus B
  • HM Treasury E
  • Home Office F
  • National Media Museum E
  • National Railway Museum E
  • Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament) G
  • Portcullis House G
  • 10 Downing Street D