Private businesses of all types face increasing demands around improving energy efficiency.
Not only does efficiency dictate your overall energy bill, but it’s also a significant step towards sustainability and helps you align your business with the government’s net-zero targets.
For landlords who let office spaces, good energy efficiency is now a strong draw for attracting occupying businesses. Similarly, businesses which own their office space must prioritise efficiency measures to reduce bills and comply with ever-increasing efficiency regulations.
MEES EPC Changes In April 2023
Commercial landlords and any other businesses that let office space may find themselves struggling to understand new efficiency developments introduced in April 2023, where Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) were changed, meaning no landlord could legally let a property with an EPC rating below E.
Do you know your building’s EPC? Not many owners do – it’s an overlooked measurement often seen as a confusing and misleading metric. Irwin Mitchell found that both commercial landlords and occupiers alike were confused about the EPC rating of their buildings, with just 32% knowing their current EPC rating.
Landlords and owner-occupiers must ensure they have a better understanding of EPC ratings and how to improve energy efficiency. It’s no longer just a question of saving money on energy costs; it’s now an ever-tightening legal requirement.
A commercial EPC rating is assessed by a qualified Non-Domestic Energy Assessor (NDEA), who will inspect a building’s size, space, insulation, heating and power systems to determine a grade between A-G. A-ratings are reserved for the most efficient properties with net zero annual
CO2 emissions.
As a business owner, you must now seek to improve efficiency to ensure your property is rated above the mandatory minimum E rating. However, the government is considering even stricter demands that may lead to a minimum B rating by 2030. Whilst this is not yet confirmed, it’s a clear sign that you must now prioritise energy efficiency as a central focus.
How to rapidly improve energy efficiency
There are many different ways to improve energy efficiency, but it can be hard to know where to start. Addressing the least efficient parts of a building can be a good foundation for success, but so too can introducing new technologies like heat pumps.
We recently discussed energy management systems on our blog, which may provide the ideal foundation for taking control of your building’s energy efficiency. These systems allow you to track energy patterns, spot inefficiencies, and implement energy-saving techniques like
automatic lighting control.
With an energy management system in place, you’ll better understand where your building is lacking efficiency, which in turn allows you to address problems more cost-effectively.
At Quora Group, we can help you not only track and improve efficiency by installing energy management controls, but we can also advise on renewable energy generation and storage technologies to help you increase efficiency and reduce your energy bills.
Contact us today to take control of your energy performance.