Industry News


The BBP Responds To The UK Government’s Ambitious Plans To Introduce A New Performance Based Energy Rating Scheme For Commercial Buildings


BBP welcomes the publication of proposals by BEIS to introduce a national performance-based policy framework for rating the energy and carbon performance of commercial and industrial buildings above 1,000m2 in England & Wales. This is accompanied by a detailed consultation on Introducing Performance-Based Ratings in Commercial and Industrial Offices above 1,000m² in England and Wales.


“It is particularly pleasing to see that the policy proposals very closely align with the NABERS UK scheme, clearly stating: ‘The Government supports NABERS UK. It is implementing – at a voluntary level – exactly the kind of performance-based approach that the Government is looking to mandate at a national level.’


“The BBP applauds these aspirational plans to implement


a scheme that will provide much needed transparency for commercial property investors,


owners and occupiers.


This is vital in order to accelerate efforts to improve energy efficiency and drive the UK commercial property sector to decarbonise and deliver on its net zero targets.


“The Government is


Sarah Ratcliffe, CEO of the BBP commented: “The Better Buildings Partnership has championed the introduction of mandatory disclosure of the in-use energy performance of commercial buildings for over a decade. We are therefore delighted to see the publication of this consultation. This really could be a game-changer for the UK commercial property sector.


“The consultation makes extensive reference to the industry leading work undertaken by the BBP highlighting the


performance gap


performance, evidencing members in the Real


between the


design voluntary intent and participation actual of BBP Estate Environmental Benchmark and


endorsing the Design for Performance initiative that led to the launch of the NABERS UK scheme in November last year.


to be commended on its open and


constructive approach to developing this consultation responding to market demand for a scheme that reflects accountabilities for the energy performance of commercial buildings and acknowledges the need for a phased approach tailored to specific building types. The BBP will be working with its members to provide a detailed response to the consultation in due course and looks forward to continued engagement with Government.”


Louise Ellison, Chair of BBP and Head of Sustainability at Hammerson said: “This consultation is a major step forward for the industry. I would urge everyone to read the documentation and provide constructive feedback to ensure we get


a system that works for the sector and supports us in delivering and operating buildings fit for the future.” Powerful Business Case For Air Quality


Improving air quality is not just the right thing to do in terms of public health but will also have a significant impact on business profitability and productivity, according to the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA).


Research carried out by CBI Economics on behalf of the Clean Air Fund shows that, apart


from the obvious health impacts,


poor air quality also reduces productivity, shortens the operating life of capital equipment and increases maintenance costs.


The business organisation said that improving air quality should be a key part of the UK’s journey to net zero and that meeting World Health Organisation (WHO) air quality guidelines by 2030 was “a crucial element of the green recovery”.


BESA added that more attention should be paid to the quality of the air inside buildings adding that the appalling standard of some domestic ventilation systems was storing up a major health scandal.


“This does not just cause unnecessary suffering and death; it is a huge financial burden on the country – the NHS in particular,” said chief executive David Frise. “The pandemic has thrust the issue of indoor air quality (IAQ) into the spotlight and this is an opportunity to change things for the


long-term good of the country and the economy.”


The CBI said air pollution was hitting the balance sheets of businesses right across the country and cutting the earnings of their employees.


“Cleaning up our air would help us to lead healthier and more productive lives, while delivering a green jobs boost for the economy,” said chief economist Rain Newton-Smith. “Businesses


06 fmuk


from all sectors support a sustainable and green future and many companies are already committed to doing what they can to help the UK reach its net zero target for emissions in 2050.”


A recent BESA webinar heard how mechanical ventilation


systems would play a key role in giving people confidence to return to buildings in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis – a factor that would determine how quickly businesses can get back to something like normal operation. However, it also heard that lack of attention to the quality of IAQ in domestic settings was an increasingly serious problem.


Air quality specialist Craig Booth warned that the country was creating “a new type of slum” defined by appalling indoor conditions. “We are seeing some terrible installations in homes and need to do much better,” he said – referring to the misuse of mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) systems in particular.


“Manufacturers are getting the blame for noisy and ineffectual systems, but often it is the installation that is wrong with flexible ducting being squeezed into inappropriate spaces,” said Booth, who is a member of BESA’s Health & Wellbeing in Buildings committee.


“The Covid crisis has raised awareness of IAQ and demonstrated that


well designed, installed and operated ventilation


systems can tackle both internally and externally generated contaminants. This will be key to delivering bio-security in buildings as we seek to emerge from lockdown,” he said.


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