ENERGY
THE HEAT IS ON
OFFICE OWNERS OVER
ENERGY CERTIFICATES
orkplace design specialist
W
Space Solutions is seeing
a marked increase in the
number of businesses
taking steps to comply
with new green ratings for commercial
premises.
However, the firm’s Environmental
Consultant Rhona Turnbull says the
majority of business premises owners are
still unclear about the legal requirement
for Energy Performance Certificates (EPC).
Now she has urged companies to do
their homework on the new legislation –
or risk facing costly delays when trying to
sell or rent properties, as well as fines.
Since January demand for the service
has increased dramatically as more and
more businesses rush to comply with new
Rhona Turnbull
laws which state most commercial
premises must have an EPC at the point of
sale or lease.
“Now is the ideal time to be
Rhona recently bolstered her existing
environmental credentials by qualifying as
proactive in getting assessed”
a certified EPC Assessor and added: “The
EPC system is in its infancy, so there is still
a lot confusion even among property swiftly, particularly if they may be selling to improve to get a better rating and enjoy
professionals about exactly how it works. or letting their premises. Failure to have the benefits that will bring to their business
We can guide people through this. an EPC in time could cause a deal to and to the environment.”
“Put simply it is an A-G rating of how collapse because it is now a legal Depending on size and complexity of
well a building performs in environmental requirement for any such transaction. commercial premises an assessment can
terms, very like the rating you get when She added: “To have a sale or take from 1-7 days and typically may cost
buying a new fridge or a washing potential rental deal fall through because £300 to £1,000. Rhona, who was
machine. of a lack of an EPC certificate could be awarded EPC Assessor status by the
“When the ratings first came out for extremely costly. We’ve already had a Building Research Establishment (BRE) this
white goods, people didn’t pay much number of clients come to us needing an year, is now carrying out at least two
attention. Now you can’t buy a washing EPC at very short notice.” assessments per week.
machine or a fridge without a rating and While achieving a rating is the first On top of its expertise in designing,
most customers want to be assured what priority for most businesses, Rhona says refurbishing and relocating workplaces,
they are buying is as environmentally that increasingly companies will look to Space Solutions offers services advising
friendly as possible. improve their rating and that Space companies how to benefit from making
“Typically people are looking for lower Solutions expertise in workplace design their premises more sustainable. The firm
running costs and a good rating can be enables them to do this, even before can help companies to significantly reduce
an indicator of this, something which will issuing the EPC. overheads by improving environmental
apply even more so to buildings.” Rhona added: “The whole idea is that efficiencies.
From January a seven-day grace over time, if someone is looking for a new Following the introduction of
period was available for businesses to office or workplace, they will use the EPC legislation at the beginning of January, all
attain an EPC during commercial property rating to help make their decision. non-domestic premises, including offices
transactions. From April 1 that buffer “If someone is looking at two similar over 50m
2
and warehouses, must have an
period disappeared and those without premises and one has a higher EPC rating EPC at the time of sale or lease.
EPCs could face fines. not only is that the better choice for their Space Solutions operates UK-wide to
Rhona added: “Therefore now is the green credentials, there will also be real design, build, fit out, refurbish and
ideal time for companies to be more financial savings from having a more relocate modern and productive business
proactive in getting their premises energy-efficient building. environments. It has bases in Aberdeen,
assessed.” “The obvious next step will be when Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and
Rhona urged workplace owners to act firms don’t just want to comply, but want Peterborough. www.spacesolutions.info
SUSTAINABLE FM | MAY 2009
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