Skip to main content
Facilitate Magazine: Informing Workplace and Facilities Management Professionals - return to the homepage Facilitate magazine logo
  • Search
  • Visit Facilitate Magazine on Facebook
  • Visit Facilitate Magazine on LinkedIn
  • Visit @Facilitate_Mag on Twitter
Visit the website of the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management Logo of the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management

Main navigation

  • Home
  • News
    • Comment
    • People
    • Reports
    • Research
  • Features
    • Analysis
    • Features
    • Round Tables
    • Webinars
  • Outsourcing
    • Contract Finder
    • Contracts
    • FM Business Models
    • Interviews
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Opinion
    • Procurement
    • Trends
  • Know-How
    • Explainers
    • Legal Updates
    • White Papers
  • Jobs
  • Topics
    • Workplace Services
      • Hospitality
      • Catering
      • Cleaning
      • Front of House
      • Grounds Maintenance
      • Helpdesk
      • Mailroom
      • Manned Guarding / Security
      • Pest Control
      • Washroom Services
      • Disaster Recovery
      • Specialist Services
    • Professional Performance
      • Behavioural Change
      • Continual Professional Development
      • Education
      • Management
      • Recruitment
      • Training
    • Workplace Performance
      • Benchmarking
      • Health & Wellbeing
      • Operational Readiness
      • Procurement
      • Security
      • Workplace User Experience
      • Workplace Culture
    • Compliance
      • Health & Safety
      • Risk & Business Continuity
      • Standards
      • Statutory Compliance
    • Building Services
      • Architecture & Construction
      • Asset Management
      • Building Controls
      • Building Fabric
      • Drinking Water
      • Fire Protection
      • HVAC
      • Landscaping
      • Mechanical & Electrical
      • Building Security
      • Water, Drainage & Plumbing
    • Technology
      • Building Information Modelling
      • CAFM
      • Data & Networks
      • Document Management
      • Information Management
      • Internet of Things (IoT)
      • Software & Systems
    • Energy management
      • Energy Management Systems
      • Electricity
      • Gas
      • Solar
      • Wind
    • Sustainability
      • Environmental Quality
      • Social Value
      • Waste Management
      • Recycling
    • Workspace Design
      • Agile Working
      • Fit-Out & Refurbishment
      • Inclusive Access
      • Lighting
      • Office Interiors
      • Signage
      • Space Planning
      • Storage
      • Vehicle Management / Parking
      • Washroom
    • Sectors
      • Corporate Office
      • Education
      • Healthcare
      • Manufacturing
      • International
      • Retail
      • Sports & Leisure
      • Regions
  • Buyers' Guide
Quick links:
  • Home
  • Sections
  • Topics
Know How
Sections
Legal Updates
Compliance
Sustainability

Proactive on energy

Open-access content Friday 22nd August 2008 — updated 12.17pm, Tuesday 26th May 2020
From the archive:  Just so you know, this article is more than 3 years old.

The government may be slow to implement the EU's directive on energy performance of buildings but FM should be seizing the initiative, says Elaine Coles

 

10 March 2006

 

In January 2006 energy efficiency moved one step forward with the EU's energy performance of buildings directive (EPBD). Under this legislation, energy efficiency of  domestic, commercial and public buildings should increase by up to 20 per cent.

 

With around 40 per cent of all CO2 emissions in the UK coming from buildings it is not surprising that the pressure is now on FMs to reduce how much energy a building consumes. Poorly-managed buildings can needlessly waste energy and thus incur penalties as a consequence of the EPBD and part L2 of the Building Regulations.

 

According to recent studies carried out on behalf of the European Insulation Manufacturers' Association (Eurima), the provisions of the directive to develop minimum requirements on the energy performance of new buildings and large existing buildings will only capture about 10 per cent of the overall potential (39 million tonnes). In Eurima's view upgrading the insulation of older buildings would prevent the emission of 460 million tonnes of CO2 annually - more than the entire EU commitments to Kyoto.

 

However despite the transition into national law only 10 EU states met the EPBD deadline - the UK wasn't among them. Even among the minority of countries that have taken on the directive, several will delay introducing key elements by up to three years - including the requirement to issue energy performance certificates for buildings above a minimum size.

 

The directive requires that whenever a building is constructed, sold or rented out, a certificate (no older than 10 years) detailing its energy performance must be made available by the owner, to the prospective buyer or tenant. The certificate must include reference values such as current legal standards and benchmarks in order to facilitate comparisons.
Interestingly, it also must include recommendations for cost-effective investments which can be undertaken in the building to improve its energy performance. In addition all buildings, regularly visited by a large number of people or occupied by a public authority, will be required to display prominently its current energy certificate. It will show the performance or rating in a series of bands - 'A' being the most energy efficient.

 

This rating system and the certificates in general should give FMs a powerful voice in the boardroom when trying to get funding for projects. After all they are not just influenced by regulations but also by the need to reduce operating costs - which can amount to three times the amount of capital needed to buy the building. Add the impact of climate change levies and emissions trading taxes and energy efficiency can become a great deal more important to companies.

 

Alan Aldridge, executive director at the Energy Systems Trade Association (Esta) believes that despite all the publicity surrounding energy efficiency, it still doesn't figure highly at board level: "The UK simply can't afford to continue with a head-in-the-sand approach. The more pressure that comes from the top to integrate energy efficiency into every aspect of business is the key to achieving economic advantage."

 

Esta's main focus centres on the demand side energy efficiency of buildings, building services and process services. As a result it considers issues beyond simple energy consumption to those systems and processes that influence the whole life cost of a building. These include maintenance and management costs.

 

It has played a significant role in the UK Climate Change Programme (CCP) consultation processes and its numerous initiatives such as climate change levy and enhanced capital allowances. Esta firmly believes that CCP represents an excellent opportunity for facilities managers to gain that vital boardroom support for energy and environmental initiatives. In fact it could be the key to moving energy to the top of the board's agenda.

 

Aldridge says: "To date, UK CO2 targets simply haven't delivered - pessimists would say they've been a disaster in terms of achievement. Hopefully the current climate change review will come forward with more radical policies. At the moment the broad willingness to grasp the energy mettle unfortunately doesn't appear to be there and as long as that's the case it causes uncertainty and confusion in the marketplace."

 

Aldridge predicts the consequence of this uncertainty will be an unwillingness to invest in energy efficient technologies and services if there is no confidence in long term official strategy and planning.

 

Certainly investing in systems which help companies comply with the new directive can help to reduce operating costs and increase energy efficiency. Intelligent building control systems are the latest buzzwords. They can monitor everything from electricity to water and gas consumption; automatically generating reports and information when needed. But naturally it requires the investment to reap the benefits.

 

So facilities managers should be looking at a programme to cost-effectively improve energy performance. It should become a factor in their procurement choices. These energy certificates last for up to 10 years and during that time the energy rating can be reassessed, so it is important that facilities managers put in place a programme of environmental improvements to the property. Not only would it raise its value but it would give the company better environmental credentials and increase its standing with investors.

 

The concern about energy issues and the need to take positive action is reflected in the growing prominence of the Nemex conference (National Energy Management Exhibition) taking place at the NEC from 16-18 May. The range of technologies, services, products and processes already in or coming into the marketplace demonstrates how far the UK has already embraced energy efficiency into the mainstream of business thinking, irrespective of the speed of government action.

 

Elaine Coles is head of research at IMS Consulting.

 

Details of Nemex are at www.nemex-energy.co.uk

You may also be interested in...

Carbon co-operative

The EU plans to meet its latest climate change goals with a system of trading. Sylvia Austermann and Jane Laffan look at what the international arrangements mean for FMs

Friday 22nd August 2008
Open-access content

High maintenance

David Roebuck and Michelle Barkley report on the revised standards and regulations intended to make the upkeep and repair of a building's façade safer by design

Friday 22nd August 2008
Open-access content

The CCL challenge

Federation schemes and expert surveys can assist the facilities manager in ensuring their organisations meet energy consumption targets under Climate Change Levy guidelines

Friday 22nd August 2008
Open-access content

Airing the cooling rules

The EU regulations controlling the use of fluorinated greenhouse gases, commonly found in air conditioning systems, are the subject of new guidance published by Defra

Friday 22nd August 2008
Open-access content

Watch your waste line

Under the EU directive, the UK must begin to weigh up the options so that we can dramatically reduce the amount of biodegradable waste sent to landfill each year

Friday 22nd August 2008
Open-access content

You and Weee

The long-awaited Weee directive - on the disposal of waste electronic and electrical material - will be implemented in full next month. But what are the implications for FM?

Wednesday 20th August 2008
Open-access content
Also filed in
Topics
Know How
Content
Legal Updates
Compliance
Sustainability
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linked in
  • Mail
  • Print

 

Latest Jobs

Interim Head of Health & Safety

Suffolk
£250.00 - £300.00 per day (premium day rate)
Reference
59637

Contracts & Senior Estates Project Manager

North West England
£29.53 per hour
Reference
59633

Facilities Manager

London (Central)
up to £43,000 + excellent benefits including car
Reference
59631
See all jobs »

 

 

Sign up to our newsletter

News, jobs and updates

Sign up

Subscribe to print

Sign up to receive our bi-monthly magazine

Subscribe
Facilitate magazine cover, June 2020
​
FOLLOW US
@Facilitate_Mag
Facilitate Magazine
Facilitate Magazine
CONTACT US
Contact us
Tel: 020 7880 6200
​

IWFM

About IWFM
Become a member
Qualifications
Events

Information

Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
Cookie Policy
Think Green

Get in touch

Contact us
Advertise with us
Subscribe to Facilitate Magazine
Write for Facilitate Magazine

General

IWFM Jobs
Help

© 2023 • www.facilitatemagazine.com and Facilitate Magazine are published by Redactive Media Group. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any part is not allowed without written permission.

Redactive Media Group Ltd, 71-75 Shelton Street, London WC2H 9JQ