European Directive 2002/91/EC Energy Performance of Buildings seeks to promote the improvement of the energy performance of all buildings within the Community. This is largely to help member states to meet their obligations to the Kyoto Treaty and reduce their CO₂ emissions. Article 7 calls for member states to make it a requirement that an energy performance certificate must be available to the prospective owner / buyer / tenant whenever a building is constructed, sold or rented out, and to be accompanied by recommendations for cost-effective improvements

The main legislative instrument through which the Directive is implemented in the UK is The Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations SI 2007 / 991 though there are requirements arising from the The Home Information Pack Regulations SI 2007 / 992

The Directive required all member countries to bring the directive's measures into effect by January 2006 or by January 2009 where member countries had insufficient numbers of qualified assessors. The UK did not bring the measures fully into effect until recently (October 2008).