Offices come in with average energy grade of C - commercial mortgages

02 July 2008

In news that may interest those with commercial mortgages, it has been revealed that the average commercial office in the UK has an average energy performance rating of C.

The result is the earliest to emerge after the introduction of energy performance certificates (EPCs) for private sector offices, the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has said.

Following the introduction of the certificates for buildings with more than 10,000 sq m of space, the DCLG has issued a series of tips on how such properties could be made more energy efficient.

Housing minister Iain Wright said such assessments were a good way of helping commercial landlords work out how energy performance can be improved.

He added: "It is important that this should be available to prospective buyers and tenants of all commercial buildings so we look forward to extending EPCs to the rest of the sector in October."

One example of the sort of building which may be successfully let to eco-conscious tenants in has just been unveiled in Glasgow.

The £130 million building in the city centre will have an air conditioning that will save 30 per cent on carbon emissions and use 30 per cent less energy, with an equivalent saving on cost, reports the Green Building Press.