That is why we are undertaking an ambitious project to create a National Buildings Database that will include every building in Great Britain. This database, or inventory, will help the government make the best decisions regarding energy usage, to help:
As part of the creation of the National Buildings Database, our research team will visit some buildings in person to conduct a site audit to understand the shape, size, occupation and energy use of buildings in the country. The audits allow us to ensure that the data from other sources matches the real world and enables us to build a deeper understanding of the wide variety of buildings and their energy use.
If you have been asked to participate in a site audit, we encourage you to please do so, as they are vital to the project and reaching our Net Zero goals.
A site audit is similar to the process of obtaining an Energy Performance Certificate. Verco has partnered with Sustainable Construction Services (SCS) and Carbon Futures to conduct each visit. While they will make every effort to streamline the process, the site audits are comprehensive and will require your collaboration.
Before the site visit, we will ask you to gather information regarding your energy usage, including:
On the day of the audit, we will:
The length of the visit will largely depend on the size and complexity of the site. For smaller spaces such as shops and small offices, we may be on site for half a day. Large, industrial complexes may require up to two days. We will always be respectful of your team and your time.
For more information on the project, please visit this website’s home page and our FAQs page. You may also express your interest in a site audit directly through the contact form.
Verco, who will be conducting the site audits, takes your privacy very seriously and are committed to protecting your personal information and the information you provide as part of this research. This privacy notice explains how we do that along with the relevant laws, registrations and standards that we adhere to.
Over many years Verco has worked to make the audit experience as simple and informative as possible for audit hosts. The following guide provides key details about what to expect before, during and after an audit visit.
The National Buildings Database is founded on more than a decade of development of building stock models at the UCL Building Stock Lab. This document explains the vital role that the telephone surveys and site audits play in ensuring the accuracy of the database.
As a host you will benefit from a visit by an experienced auditor which will result in insights that will be shared with you both during and after the audit. The value of the audit is significant. You can read about the benefits in more detail in this document.
We will need consent from the owner or occupier of the identified property to allow an energy audit to be conducted as part of the National Buildings Database. Further details of the audit, the project and what will happen to the data gathered are contained in the information sheets on this FAQs page as well as the NBD website. You will be asked to complete a consent form like this.