legal updates
Thursday, 22 Jul 2010
GREEN ANY PROPERTY
Bringing Benefits to Business and the Environment
Owners and tenants should keep a watchful eye on the energy efficiency and carbon emissions of their commercial buildings. The last two years have witnessed a spurt of government activity on climate change and sustainability regulations. 2009 saw the introduction of energy performance certificates for all properties bought or sold and this year sees the beginnings of a carbon emissions trading scheme for commercial buildings (the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme). Many more regulations are set to follow.
It is still early days but the gamblers amongst us would surely bet on the “green” factor impacting on property prices and the marketability of buildings in as early as the next two to three years, particularly once the CRC comes into full effect.
Owners and occupiers might want to think, then, about making energy efficiency improvements to their buildings. There are, unfortunately, a number of barriers to doing so:
- the cost of making energy efficiency improvements
- a lack of control over the property, either because it is leased or forms part of a larger development
- a lack of co-ordination among landlords and commercial tenants in developments
- generally, a lack of incentive to make improvements
To help businesses make energy efficiency improvements, we have put together a Green Any Property service. Our aim is to give owners and occupiers a single port of call to allow them:
- to test their property for its energy efficiency rating
- to claim available green tax reliefs and government grants
- (the legal part!) to agree changes with landlords or tenants of commercial leases, in order to allow co-operation on an energy efficiency programme
Follow this link to Green Any Property for full details.
For more information, please contact Michael Dewar.