January 21, 2010
Fresh on the back of the Copenhagen summit, the Carbon Trust has published a report, Buildings hold the key to meeting our carbon targets (www.carbontrust.co.uk/publications), highlighting that if the UK is to meet its carbon reduction target, non-domestic buildings must improve their energy rating from the current standard E rating to:
• C by 2020
• A by 2050
The report highlights that non-domestic buildings – i.e. Commercial buildings such as offices, shops and hotels; the large number of public sector buildings; and industrial buildings - are critical in the move to a low carbon economy. They currently account for 18% of the UK's total carbon emissions.
The Carbon Trust believes that they can and must play a significant role in reducing the UK’s CO2 emissions.
The trust states that non-domestic buildings use as much energy as Switzerland produces in a year. They are comment that they are where the UK generates a large proportion of its GDP, and they are is where most of us spend the majority of our waking hours.
The Report states that the key to meeting the UK carbon targets lies in:
- Rolling out Display Energy Certificates and Energy Performance Certificates to all non-domestic buildings by 2015.
- Making triple glazing and ground source heat pumps standard in new and existing buildings from 2020.
- Continuing the de-carbonisation of the electricity grid.
- Encouraging designers and developers to make better use of light and ventilation.
The report does however recognise that developers have yet to view energy costs as anything other than marginal to a development and that efforts must be made to overcome that perception. All parties need to work together if carbon reduction is to be a reality rather than merely a commitment.
Energy performance certificates are here to stay. For those who are still uncertain as to the necessity of the same, further measures will undoubtedly be put into place in time to ensure that commercial buildings become more energy efficient. This will apply to both existing and new buildings.
For more information on this or topics related to Commercial Property please contact Andrew Woods on 01295 204110 or email awoods@se-law.co.uk
