Unlock the potential of buildings to reduce carbon emmissions

just finished reading a very interesting article in the carbon trust newsletter (you can find this at www.carbontrust.co.uk)

commercial buildings account for nearly one fifth of our carbon emmissions, but government intervention will be needed if they are going to contribute appropriately to achieve the reduction goals we aspire to achieve by 2020.

Work has already started with initiatives broadening the implementation of Display energy certificates and a desire to impose a minimum threshold on all commercial property of an EPC Level F, but focus also needs to be placed on availability of carbon friendly stock. Tennants may appreciiate carbon benefits, from a green ethos and from a running cost perspective, but are unlikely to implement or retro-fit measures that will make a significant difference. The burden of responsibility will therefore fall to landlords who can alter the fabric of their buildings during re-fits are between tenancies. focus and incentives aimed in ths direction will have an impact.

As energy assessors we can produce accurate analysis of a buildings energy usage and potential savings areas, but unless landlords are incentivised to act I suspect nothing will happen.