The government delayed reaching energy efficiency goals
Office property developers have been granted additional time to implement energy efficiency standards. This follows the government’s decision to postpone by one year the requirement for commercial buildings to achieve a minimum EPC B energy efficiency rating and to remove the interim target that was due to come into force next year. However, what are the reasons for this delay, and how will it affect the construction industry in the future?
The main source: Reprieve for office developers as government delays energy efficiency targets
What is the reason for the delay?
The requirement for commercial buildings to achieve an EPC B energy efficiency rating has been postponed by one year. The interim target for improving building efficiency has also been removed. This means that privately rented non-domestic buildings larger than 1,000 square metres will now be required to achieve an EPC B rating from 2031 instead of 2030. The decision is an interim response from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) to a consultation on the targets that concluded more than five years ago.
The department stated that it is removing the interim target to give landlords and tenants more time to improve the energy performance of their buildings “in a way that is appropriate to their buildings and lease arrangements.” Existing flexibility mechanisms, including the seven-year payback test and exemption provisions, will remain in place, ensuring that only improvements that are “practical, affordable, and cost-effective” will be required.
How will energy efficiency changes influence the construction industry in the future?
Despite the delay, the government has not abandoned its long-term energy efficiency objectives. This means that companies will still be required to implement the standards established by the government.
Andrew Lloyd, Managing Director of property technology firm Search Acumen, said that the delay “will come as a relief to some within the commercial property sector. The original deadline was widely criticised as unrealistic. It has already affected smaller landlords, many of whom have been pushed out of the market, while larger portfolio owners and institutional investors, who can spread risk and create compliant stock from day one, have stepped in.”
Fencyx, as one of the leading wholesale suppliers in the UK, supports this decision. We are confident that providing companies with additional time will help them achieve their goals with fewer difficulties and greater efficiency.