Energy efficiency ''dependent on organised management - commercial mortgages

18 July 2007

Energy efficiency in commercial properties will only be able to be improved if firms have in place a highly organised management system, the British Property Foundation (BPF) has said.

The federation has advised that it does not provide specific energy efficiency technologies across the board, but believes that each building should be dealt with on an individual level, with a full understanding of building occupancy patterns among the necessary requirements.

The onus falls on both tenants and landlords who own commercial mortgages to ensure that the building is running at optimal efficiency, the BPF added.

"Both need to get their houses in order – the landlord has a responsibility [to ensure that] the communal services – heating, lighting, lifts – are as efficient as they can be," advised BPF senior policy officer for sustainability Matt Smith.

However, property trade body the British Council of Offices advised last month that London mayor Ken Livingstone''s environmental targets for office buildings were destined to fail.