Industry Today - Are you into it?
New Users - Register click here
According to Savills property advisers Energy Performance Certificates rating of grade E or above will be require for commercial properties by 2018.
Posted via Industry Today. Are you into it? Follow us on Twitter @IndustryToday
According to Savills property advisers, 700 million sq ft of commercial floor space may require an energy efficiency overhaul by 2018.
The company's latest report, Opportunities in Green, reveal that landlords will be legally obliged to improve the energy efficiency performance of those properties. Improving the energy efficiency of premises can result in a long terms enhancement of a properties portfolio. Opportunities in Green also investigates the results of Private Rented Sector regulations all of this is a main part of the 2011 Energy Bill.
Landlords will be required to take note of lease renewals that come to market in the next five years. They will be advised to improve the energy performance of these private rented properties, most applicable to commercial property in London, to ensure the property holds an Energy Performance Certificate rating of grade E or above.
The improvement of energy performance will have to be in place before accepting new tenants.
Michael Pillow, director of Savills building consultancy, said:
"If the legislation goes through, leasing of a sub grade E standard property will become unlawful from April 2018".
He went on to say:
"Although upfront payment issues to enable energy consumers to improve their property are considered within the Government's proposals under The Green Deal financing framework, in practice there are many issues still to be resolved such as recovering charges incurred during void periods or in multi-tenanted properties which could raise concerns and needs close examination."
Taking the step of improving commercial property refurbishment will not only help meet Government targets it could decrease the vacancy periods for premises, as SMEs are constantly showing a preference for 'green properties'.
A Savills research team member Marie Hickey said:
"It's the avoidance of the 'brown' discount rather than the hunt for the 'green' premium that will drive investors/landlords to improve the efficiency of their portfolio. If we look to US and German markets we are seeing evidence of clear demand shifts towards green office product with a recent report suggesting demand has tripled in the five core German markets."
Steps to enable Commercial Properties to become more Energy Efficient
There are a number of steps that organisations can take in order to become more energy efficient and ultimately reduce energy bills in order to meet the necessary standards.
Initially, it is advisable to undergo a thorough energy survey in order to highlight areas for improvement within the premises. Within large organisations in particular, it is important to install Smart Meters which will allow Energy Managers to pinpoint how much energy is used during a given period. If energy usage isn't monitored then can't be improved upon.
Once the energy usage has been highlighted, it then becomes apparent as to where improvements can be made for example, replacement of dated lighting fittings with new, low energy lighting installations with motion sensors to ensure minimal energy output at all times.
Installations like these mean significant energy savings for organisations, savings which ultimately become "the new profit" for the business.
A brighter future
Moving forward, the ultimate solution for organisations as far as energy management is concerned is for them to produce their own energy straight from the source using Solar PV. Photovoltaics are a method for generating electrical power to convert energy from the sun into electricity using solar cells. Solar cells produce direct current electricity from light, which can be transformed into electrical energy to power equipment within domestic and commercial properties.
David Cameron on Solar PV:
"I want Britain to adopt Microgeneration. Small providers including homes and businesses producing energy for their own using a variety of methods our plans will help create a mass market for Mircrogeneration. "
"Supermarkets and other commercial enterprises with premises could also become generators and suppliers. Schools, hospitals, community groups, all of them can join in. This is not a pipe dream, it is tomorrow's world and the market is definitely ready to respond."
He went on to say:
"Decentralised energy saves money, it can reduce the heavy investment that will otherwise be needed in the national grid all of which could save us billions of pounds."
"Once you start to generate your own energy, experience shows that people become more energy conscious as they start to take real steps to balance the amount they consume with the amount they generate."
To view David Cameron speaking in more detail about the benefits of Solar PV, click here
To take the next steps to becoming more energy efficient, contact William Dyer Electrical who can arrange a free Energy Survey for your organisation and subsequently make recommendations about measures you can take moving forward.
William Dyer Electrical's offer a full range of Electrical Energy Efficiency services including Smart Meters, Solar PV, Low Energy Lighting Installation, Power Distribution, Emergency Lighting Installation , Fire Alarm Installation , Data / Structured Cabling , Closed Circuit Television , Intruder Alarm Installation , Electrical Heating Installation , Electrical Maintenance, Ventilation Installation.
There are a number of case studies and testimonials available via the company's website. For more information about the projects that WM Dyer has worked on, visit www.wmdyer.co.uk or email info@wmdyer.co.uk.
About William Dyer Electrical (UK) Limited
William Dyer Electrical UK Ltd is an established electrical energy efficiency contractor with over 20 years experience designing, maintaining and installing electrical projects within a wide commercial/industrial customer base in the public and private sectors. William Dyer Electrical provide electrical energy management and energy efficiency solutions, which allow their clients to significantly reduce their energy bills. For more information from William Dyer, subscribe to our blog or visit our main site at www.wmdyer.co.uk . You can also follow William Dyer on Twitter @WM_Dyer or call 01706 212815 to speak to a Contract Manager. For high resolution imagery or further information please contact our PR Agency - SMPR (Simply Marcomms): Katie Brown - Account Manager - Office: 0870 199 4044 - Email: katie@simplymarcomms.co.uk
Contact Information
Katie Brown
SMPR (Simply Marcomms Ltd)
18 Generator Hall
Coventry
CV1 4JL
BACK TO TOP