The Energy Efficiency in Buildings Regulations 2015 makes it unlawful to issue a lease to a new or existing tenant unless there is an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) in place with a rating of E or above from 1st April 2018. Beyond this, there is an additional requirement to secure such an EPC for properties with existing leases by 1st April 2023.  With the deadline looming, the pressure on landlords to protect investment yield is very real. Banks and financiers...

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BEIS and Ofgem are seeking the views of energy industry players, including new entrants, and consumer groups on questions around how our energy system could be more smart and flexible. The Government and Ofgem are committed to ensuring the energy system works for people and businesses. A smarter and more flexible system will provide significant benefits for users and the economy which will ensure the UK has a secure, affordable and clean energy system now and in the future...

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The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond MP, has set out his first (and last) Autumn Statement, unveiling a number of immediate investments intended to create ‘an economy that works for everyone’. The Autumn Statement is an update on the Government's plans for the economy based on the latest forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility and sets out the Government taxation and spending plans. The Statement had little impact on energy markets however there were some pledges to note....

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Most large companies are unaware of the new environmental reporting requirements which will need action to be taken in 2017. The Non-Financial Reporting (NFR) Directive requires European Union (EU) Member States to mandate disclosure of environmental and social policies, risks and outcomes for large Public Interest Entities. Member States must transpose the rules on non-financial reporting into national legislation by 6th December 2016. The UK government has made it clear that until the UK has officially exited the EU, it...

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The Government has announced a consultation on the future of heat in non-domestic buildings as part of its plan to secure, affordable and clean energy solutions. Non-domestic buildings account for 12% of greenhouse gas emissions and it is vital that the carbon and bill savings are maximised if the UK is to reach its carbon reduction commitments in both the short and longer term. Today, most buildings in the UK burn fossil fuels for space and water heating. There is...

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Representatives from almost 200 countries arrived in Marrakech two weeks ago for the latest annual climate change conference, COP22. This was viewed as an opportunity to showcase progress and commence the important process of turning the COP21 Paris Agreement into a detailed plan of action. The beginning of the talks were overshadowed by the US election with the expectation that Clinton would secure a victory. By Wednesday, Trump had become the president-elect and a huge question mark hung over...

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The UK government has signed a document ratifying the world's first comprehensive agreement on tackling climate change - the Paris Climate Change Agreement. Parliament raised no objections and after the government signed the deal, the ratification was completed. The UK became the 111th country to sign up to the COP21 agreement. It comes in the wake of the election of Donald Trump, who has promised to re-instate the coal industry in the US and withdraw from the Paris deal which...

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Carbon2018 invites you to a complimentary one-to-one consultation with our Compliance Director to assist you to ensure you are up to date with and meet the requirements of current and upcoming Energy Legislation. In response to our clients’ request for a mechanism to discuss the details of specific compliance challenges faced in the buildings/portfolios they own or manage, we have developed a series of one-to-one consultations which will be held at Institute of Directors, 116 Pall Mall, London, SW1Y...

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A smarter, more flexible power system which takes advantage of low-carbon innovations and technologies such as battery storage and demand response could create savings for the UK of approximately £8bn by 2030, according to new research from Policy Exchange. The Policy Exchange report calls for a complete overhaul of the current system to accommodate emerging technologies, including wind and solar power and recommends the removal of several regulatory and policy barriers to create a level playing field and negate...

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By Joanne Merry, Technical Director, Carbon2018 It seems that today there is an art to the production of Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) to ensure that companies attain the best possible score. Gone are the days of just ticking the compliance box in order to secure a sale or letting. The introduction of the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) means that today's EPC is all about quality and strategy to maximise the rating and protect asset value. We have delivered hundreds of...

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