CIBSE calls for wider introduction of operational ratings for building energy consumption

CIBSE, the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers, has called on the Government to introduce operational ratings for buildings more widely. The institution has declared its support for the Government’s intention to introduce limited use of operational ratings as part of the implementation of the Energy Performance in Buildings Directive. Speaking at the launch of CIBSE’s ‘100 days of carbon clean up’ campaign, John Armstrong (president elect) said, ‘I predict that more and more buildings will require operational ratings in an increasing market-led quest for better buildings. That much is obvious from our campaign. If we don’t introduce operational ratings more widely, we are talking about being unable to measure the performance of up to 98% of our existing building stock, and this is where significant carbon savings are to be made.’ Back in August 2005, CIBSE sent a strongly worded letter to Minister Yvette Cooper calling for the inclusion of operational ratings as an essential measure of a building’s performance. John Armstrong explains, ‘An operational rating is a vital statistic. Nearly all built-environment carbon emissions come from existing buildings, and many of these are terribly inefficient. Without a way of measuring their day-to-day performance, it will be impossible to make improvements.’
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