Summer is coming and, for the commercial property industry, talk of air conditioning is … in the air.
From 1 July, all air conditioning inspection reports produced for systems over 12kw in England, Wales and Northern Ireland need to be placed on the Energy Performance Certificate Register.
Commercial property agents risk a fine for non-compliance under the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.
Inspections will be carried out by an accredited Energy Assessor, who will issue a report, detailing the system inspected and giving recommendations on how to reduce energy consumption, operating costs and CO2 emissions.
Under the Energy Performance of Buildings regulations, a number of other changes will come into effect on the same date.
When preparing to market a commercial property, the onus remains on the ‘relevant person’, i.e. the seller or landlord, to commission an Energy Performance Certificate. The definition of the ‘relevant person’ has now been extended to include letting agents.
The certificate has to be obtained using ‘reasonable efforts’ within seven days, instead of the previous twenty-eight. If unsure of the system’s output, commercial property managers are advised to check installation information or maintenance records in the building.
Energy efficiency is joining hose pipe bans, barbeque plans and hay fever remedies as a primary topic of interest this summer.
The government is feeling the pressure from Sustain Worldwide, a collection of sustainable commercial property developers, architects and manufacturers. They have released a statement urging the government to promote its Green Deal, an initiative to support the implementation of energy efficiency measures to households and businesses. Financial incentives are offered to suppliers of ‘green’ products, such as solar panels and photovoltaics, enabling them to install such products in residential and commercial property at no upfront cost. Instead, recipients would pay back the cost in instalments, through their energy bill. Rather than using increased regulation as detailed above, public engagement through increased marketing is needed to bring ‘real revolution’ in attitudes towards energy consumption, say the group.
