NEWS UPDATE MINIMUM ENERGY EFFICIENCY STANDARDS Commercial buildings failing on efficiency standards


Government considers solar carports to boost clean power


The UK government is exploring the potential for installing solar canopies over car parks in a move aimed at reducing energy bills for businesses and expanding access to electric vehicle charging. The Department for Energy


Security and Net Zero launched a call for evidence to assess the feasibility of installing solar canopies – or ‘solar carports’ – in supermarket, office and retail car parks across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Initial estimates suggest that an 80-space car park could save around £28,000 per year in electricity bills by installing solar carports and using all electricity generated. Companies could also make back the cost of installing solar in car parks by selling energy back to the grid or through long-term power purchase agreements. While not yet a requirement, the


approach echoes policies already in place in countries such as France and Slovenia, where certain car parks are required to include solar installations. Several sites in the UK have already


adopted similar systems. At Bentley Motors’ facility in Cheshire, a large- scale solar carport contributes to powering the company’s manufacturing operations. In Eastbourne, a hospital has reduced its carbon emissions through solar infrastructure in its car park, while a park-and-ride site in Leeds uses solar canopies to support its electric vehicle chargers. At the Metrocentre in Gateshead, thousands of rooftop and carport panels now provide a significant share of the shopping centre’s electricity. Solar canopies have also proven


to improve the experience for customers, providing shaded cover for cars during heatwaves, creating a cooler environment for both vehicles and pedestrians. The consultation aims to better


understand the costs, benefits and technical challenges of scaling up solar in car parks.


06


New survey explores the potential for heat


Analysis of official data indicates that rented commercial buildings in England and Wales – particularly offices – are now way behind schedule in delivering on higher Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) for 2030. This was the target set in 2017 by government in its Clean Growth Strategy. Subsequent governments have missed a series of timetables for making any such requirements legally enforceable. Consequently, a new study, published by commercial real estate data and technology firm Search Acumen, estimates it could take until at least 2040 for the sector as a whole to meet the 2030 MEES. These require all non-domestic private rented properties in England and Wales to achieve an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of at least ‘B’ or higher.


The findings, based upon the


firm’s latest analysis of EPCs, found that the number of property retrofits that upgraded EPC ratings to levels between A* to B fell by a fifth last year. They also reveal that despite the


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original 2018 MEES rules prohibiting the leasing of properties with an EPC rating below E, more than 13,000 rental properties still hold illegal ratings of F or G. Broken down by commercial real


estate sub-sector, the research found that office spaces have been the most affected, with an estimated 5,761 buildings still rated F or G for energy efficiency. Just 15% of offices have achieved an A, A* or B EPC ratings. The retail sector now has the lowest rate of non-compliant EPC ratings at


just 0.5%, while the hospitality sector continues to have the highest rate of top band registrations at nearly 31% – a 4% increase since April 2024. Meanwhile, educational real estate has only 1.8 % of buildings rated at the lowest F or G level, and 19% of sites rated at the highest A*, A or B bands, marking a 7% rise from April last year. It comes after the government last month announced that 200 schools are set to install new rooftop solar panels and on-site clean tech as part of a £200m package from Great British Energy.


and concerns over disruption during the academic calendar. Schools also face infrastructure limitations, with respondents pointing to the need for increased electricity capacity to support low carbon heating solutions. Cost is another significant barrier. Many schools struggle with the financial feasibility of large-scale upgrades, particularly in the context of tight budgets and limited grant availability. Compounding the issue is the UK’s current energy pricing structure, where electricity remains significantly more expensive than gas. This imbalance undermines the operational cost savings of low carbon heating technologies and limits their appeal to budget-conscious schools. Despite these challenges, schools appear open to


decarbonisation in schools While UK schools overwhelmingly prioritise net zero and show strong interest in low carbon heating solutions, a new survey by Baxi reveals that technical, financial and infrastructure barriers continue to impede progress towards full heat decarbonisation. The survey of 200 state school estates managers,


consultant engineers and M&E contractors found that 90% of schools view net zero as a key priority. Nearly all (99%) report having a formal plan in place to reduce carbon emissions. Yet more than a third continue to face persistent hurdles when attempting to decarbonise their heating systems. Technical difficulties emerged as the most commonly


cited challenge, identified by 36% of estates managers and 39% of contractors and engineers. These issues include the complexity of integrating new systems into existing buildings, limited space for plant installation,


innovation. Hybrid heat pump systems, which combine low carbon technology with existing boilers, are gaining traction, particularly amongst larger schools with more complex heating needs. Among estates managers, 93% expressed a willingness to consider hybrid systems. However, the survey highlights a misalignment


between market readiness and government policy. Hybrid heat pump systems currently receive limited support under the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS), potentially stalling adoption. The results of the survey were presented at a Baxi-


organised event in London that brought together representatives from government, heating industry experts and education stakeholders. Speaking at the event, Jeff House, Baxi’s director of external affairs and policy, said: “If schools are to keep on track for 2050 net zero, heat decarbonisation needs to accelerate rapidly in their existing building stock. We hope that with this exchange of knowledge and experience, we can work together to remove these hurdles and help set schools on their net zero roadmap.”


EIBI | MAY 2025


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