The government is to compile a database of information on the energy efficiency of commercial and public buildings in the UK.

The online system will be populated by Energy Performance Certificates (EPC), which hold information on how much a building costs to heat and maintain.

A register has already been set up for EPCs for domestic buildings which will be introduced on 1 August as part of Home Information Packs.

The system will support the registration of energy assessors who inspect buildings, and will interface with the private sector, providing monitoring reports to accreditation schemes. It will also hold financial data on buildings, so needs to be secure.