Focus on large buildings in reaching net-zero target

The post below was first published on our Real Estate blog.

Tackling emissions from buildings is an essential part of the Government's drive towards its target of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.  In our blog of 9 April 2021, we examined the proposals under consultation by the Government to bring commercial buildings up to an EPC B rating by 2030.  A complementary consultation was launched at the same time proposing a national performance based framework for rating the energy and carbon performance of large commercial and industrial buildings.  The key points are:

• The current EPC rating evaluates a building's fabric and services not actual energy consumption and associated emissions and the introduction of a performance based rating is intended to address this.
• To ensure real improvements in building performance it has to be measured and benchmarked properly with clear incentives for improvement.
• The suggested solution is an annual performance rating based on actual energy use data and mandatory public disclosure (with the first year voluntary).  The type of rating that will apply (base or whole building) will depend on whether the building is owner occupied or multi-tenant.
• Office buildings  above 1,000m² in England and Wales are the target of the first phase of these proposals with the aim a soft launch in April 2022.

The consultation closes on 9 June 2021.

The attached briefing analyses this consultation in more detail.

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