A deadline not to be missed
The 2018 deadline for EPC ratings of F or G is not as far away as you think.
We are just into May as this blog is written, which means we’re just that bit closer to the April 2018 deadline that will affect both commercial and residential buildings.
The Energy Act 2011 states that from 2018 it will be unlawful to let a commercial property with an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) of F or G. Residential buildings are included in the legislation too.
There is such a plethora of legislation impacting on buildings now that it’s easy to push aside thoughts of how to deal with it all. A date in 2018 seems such a long way off that it is tempting to worry about that later.
However, with far more than half of all commercial buildings in London falling into the F and G categories, the Energy Act could have a serious impact on incomes from rented offices – and that’s not even considering the apartments that are poorly performing in terms of energy.
To take a building from an F to an E is work that cannot be left until a few months before the deadline. A complete survey of the energy use and identification of areas of waste is required. This means accessing data from the building management system and getting to grips with it with careful analysis. In practical terms, the outcome of that analysis could lead to upgrades in the building services equipment.
This is an investment of time and money that is best spread out over a number of years. Gradual improvements are easier to achieve than an overnight miracle when it comes to cutting energy use.
Now is the time to start thinking about improving energy performance. And if the Energy Act rule is not enough motivation, the thought of saving money and putting it back onto the bottom line should be.
Karen Fletcher is Director of Keystone Communications
