For all the latest news stories visit www.eibi.co.uk ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATES


Still no sign of EPC reform for non-residential buildings


The government has announced yet another delay in introducing higher energy standards for rented or leased non- residential buildings. This time the rebuff came from the improbable source of the Agriculture Minister, Daniel Zeichner, who claims to be still “reviewing” the issue. The initial public consultation on higher standards was held back in 2019. It set out a proposed timetable to require increased minimum energy performance certificate (EPC) standards for new contracts from 2027. Since 2018 all such lettings have to be of a minimum E standard.


All this is under legislation introduced


by the Coalition government in 2011, with intended changes reconfirmed within the Conservative government’s Clean Growth Strategy published in 2017. The timetable given was to improve


these EPCs from minimum E to C by 2027 and to B by 2029. The government’s official economic impact assessment reckoned the changes would deliver an NPV (net present value) gain to business of £8.4bn. But only once implemented. Since 2021, there has been no official


statement regarding confirmation or denial of either proposals or timetables. This delay has been raised regularly


in Parliament. In 2023, a commitment was given to publish all responses received both to the 2019 and a further related consultation held in 2021. In 2023 a decision was again expected “shortly”. In response to questions, the government promised to publish a review in the early part of 2025 (see EiBI March 2025) – a deadline that clearly has now been missed once again. Understandably, the British Property


Federation has had enough of the dithering. “The sector has a critical role to play in tackling climate change, yet the government continues to keep owners and investors in the dark about future minimum energy efficiency standards,” Rob Wall, assistant director, told The Times. “The lack of a response to the consultation is hugely frustrating and is making a tough situation worse. We support higher minimum standards. We are seeing improvements in the EPC ratings of commercial buildings, but progress is slow. We need clarity from government now.”


Climate advisors say cheaper electricity key to driving green


NEWS UPDATE


transition Making electricity cheaper will help households and businesses benefit more directly from the UK’s shift to a low-carbon economy and speed up the adoption of clean technologies like electric vehicles and heat pumps, according to the Climate Change Committee (CCC). In its latest Progress Report to


Parliament, the CCC – the UK’s independent statutory climate advisory body – assessed how the government is performing against its legally binding emissions targets. It found that while policies have improved over the past year, further action is needed to ensure the benefits of cleaner energy are widely felt and to keep the UK on track to meet its climate commitments. Professor Piers Forster, interim chair of the CCC, says: “The fossil fuel era is over – cheap, clean electricity


is our future.” He added that lower electricity prices would help people switch from fossil fuels to electric alternatives, while also improving the UK’s energy security amid global uncertainty. The Committee welcomed signs of


progress across several areas (heat pump installations rose by 56% in 2024 and electric vehicles made up nearly 20% of new car sales) but warns that momentum must accelerate. As well as making electricity cheaper, other priority recommendations in the report include the implementation of regulations to prevent new homes from being connected to the gas grid and to accelerate the electrification of industrial heat.


EIBI | JULY / AUGUST 2025


07


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36