‘B’ prepared – are you ready for the new commercial energy efficiency standards?
There are big changes on the horizon for both landlords and owners of commercial buildings – as part of the UK’s journey to net zero by 2050. In this blog, we look at the changes coming up and how we can help you prepare for the challenges and opportunities ahead.
From 1 April 2023, all leased commercial properties will need to have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of ‘E’ or above. At the moment, the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) regulations prevent landlords from granting a new tenancy for a commercial building with a substandard EPC rating of ‘F’ or ‘G’. From 1 April 2023, the regulations are being tightened to cover all commercial lettings, including existing and continuing tenancies.
From ‘E’ to ‘B’ by 2030
There are more changes on the way. From 2025, every commercial building in the UK will need an EPC to rate its energy efficiency from grade ‘A’ to ‘G’. In addition, the Government is proposing that commercial properties being let must have an EPC rating of at least ‘C’ by 2027, and at least ‘B’ by 2030.
It makes sense to act now and improve the energy efficiency of your commercial building to meet this higher standard, rather than having to make ongoing improvements as the ‘B’ by 2030 standard is phased in.
We are here to help
Poorly insulated roofs and walls can have a huge impact on the EPC rating of a building. Our brick slip cladding systems are an excellent way to insulate your walls, especially when cavity wall insulation is not an option.
We offer two External Wall Insulation (EWI) systems, X-Clad and V-Clad, which both come with a wide choice of real brick and stone finishes. Crucially, our EWI systems can be retrofitted directly to an existing masonry wall, making them ideal for commercial buildings in need of energy efficiency improvements. With our insulating brick slip cladding systems, you can improve the thermal performance of your building, while preserving or enhancing the look and feel of your brick or stone exterior.
The backer panels in both systems provide excellent insulation with a BRE Green Guide Rating of ‘A’. They are available in a range of thicknesses up to 100mm (V-Clad is subject to minimum order requirement), to help meet the specific U-Value targets of your insulation project. The U-Value is a measure of how well a component of a building retains heat. The lower the U-Value, the more effective the insulant.
Our brick slips are also more sustainable compared to whole bricks. Our range of extruded brick slips use only 30%-40% of the energy used to produce traditional bricks, alongside less water and raw materials.
Whichever brick or stone finish you choose, our EWI systems are also lighter than conventional bricks, making it easier to renovate, refurbish and re-use your commercial building while making energy efficiency improvements. For example, by adding an upward extension.
The benefits of commercial retrofit
According to the UK Green Building Council, the built environment is directly responsible for 25% of the UK’s total carbon footprint. Improving the energy efficiency of commercial buildings could cut the built environment’s carbon footprint by a quarter, helping the UK to take climate action and reach the Government’s target of net zero by 2050.
Around 60% of the UK’s commercial buildings will still exist in 2050, which is why retrofitting them to meet the highest energy efficiency standards is so important.
Changing regulations are not the only factor influencing the commercial property market. As businesses and organisations in all sectors work towards their own net zero targets, commercial tenants are increasingly looking for more sustainable spaces to rent. More energy efficient commercial buildings are likely to provide cost savings for both landlords and tenants, which means occupants may be happy to work in collaboration with you to invest in energy saving improvements.
Beyond reducing energy consumption, retrofitting improvements to your commercial property could help you enhance the wellbeing and comfort of building users, make changes to optimise the space, and maximise your return on investment.
Changing regulations and a market focused on sustainability will need commercial property owners and landlords to take action and invest, but they also represent an opportunity to make the very best of your properties, now and in the future.
To find out more about our EWI systems and how they could help you improve the energy efficiency of your buildings, talk to our expert team on 0117 971 7117 or email info@eurobrick.co.uk