Latest news with #EnergyPerformanceCertificates
Spectator
18 hours ago
- Climate
- Spectator
Regulation – not climate change – is making our flats unbearably hot
If you want to spend the sunny weather house-hunting in East London, you will be met with a stark message in one of the windows of a development alongside the A12. 'Don't buy these flats,' it reads, 'Too hot'. Residents complain of temperatures which do not fall below 27 Celsius even at four in the morning, leaving them feeling breathless and exhausted. And of course, it is all the fault of climate change. The Guardian – who else? – links to a study which claims that 10,000 of us are going to die every year as a result excess heat by the middle of this century due to rising temperatures. It is true that average summer temperatures have been rising – the south east of England sees on average around half a dozen more days above 28 Celsius than it did half a century ago. But the acute problem being faced by residents of high rise blocks in East London isn't so much rising temperatures as regulatory measures designed to prevent climate change. Many thousands of people are being made to live in sick buildings because of building regulations which are supposed to cut climate emissions. The government is fixating on stuffing homes with insulation and hermetically-sealing them to prevent heat loss – new homes have to undergo tests to check they are not leaking too much air. That might keep them warm in winter, as well as give them a higher rating in the government's ill-devised Energy Performance Certificates. But come summer and it is frying people in their homes. Insulation is good in that it slows the indoors transfer of cold air in winter and warm air in summer. The trouble is, though, that buildings have their own sources of heat: from appliances, from their human occupants and in the form of solar gain – where sunlight hits a surface and converts radiant energy into heat. If you cannot disperse this heat you are going to end up with a very overheated building. Either you are going to need ventilation or, better still, air conditioning. But many new British homes have too little of the former and none of the latter. We are building high towers with large glass windows but with little provision for opening them. Meanwhile, air conditioning in private homes is being discouraged through Energy Performance Certificates and planning rules. The government wants us to fit heat pumps, and is chucking £7,500 grants at us for installing one, yet these grants are not available for air to air heat pumps – which can cool as well as heat a home – only for more expensive air source and ground source heat pumps. According to the English Housing Survey just 3 per cent of households use air conditioning to cool their home. Across Europe the average is 10 per cent. In China it is 60 per cent, the US 88 per cent and Japan 91 per cent. Government policy essentially treats air conditioning as an environmental menace because of its high energy consumption. But why, when its pattern of use matches very well with the output from the solar panels which Ed Miliband wants to plaster over the countryside? If more UK homes don't fit air conditioning consumers are soon going to find themselves paying huge 'constraint payments' to owners of solar farms (just as they already do for wind farms) because there will be no use for the energy they are generating on hot, sunny days. When our cars, and many offices, are stuffed with air conditioning systems it is perverse that we are expected to do with them in our homes. Stop blaming climate change for people sweltering in their homes and let them cool them down just as people do in other countries.
Eyewitness News
01-08-2025
- Business
- Eyewitness News
How Redefine and its tenants are shaping a greener future together
Redefine Properties 1 August 2025 | 7:51 Redefine Properties is rewriting the role of a property partner in South Africa by placing people, purpose and planet at the heart of everything we do. With sustainability rooted in collaboration, Redefine is leading the way towards a more sustainable, future-fit built environment: one green building, one partnership, at a time. 'A sustainable future isn't something we can achieve alone; it's something we build together.' - Ursula Mpakanyane, Head of ESG, Redefine Properties ESG: From a buzzword to a business ethosIn recent years, environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles have become a staple in the corporate world. Turning this concept into meaningful action is a trademark of responsible companies: • Environmental: Reduce carbon emissions, conserve water and energy, and manage waste • Social: Support the wellbeing of tenants, employees and communities • Governance: Entrenchment of our environmental goals through the adoption of green lease principles At Redefine, we aim to achieve these goals through collaboration and stakeholder partnerships, especially with our tenants. Purpose-built, people-powered 'ESG is embedded in every decision we make,' says Mpakanyane. 'We believe property is our commodity, but people are our business. That's why our mission is bold: to deliver the smartest and most sustainable spaces.' From a sustainability perspective, the proof is in the numbers - Green buildings are ±25% more energy efficient and ±17% more water efficientR15.6 billion issued in green funding- 129 Energy Performance Certificates obtained- 9 Net Zero Carbon Level 2 buildings, including Alice Lane, Convention Tower, and Ballyoaks Office Park that were achieved this year. - 62% of Redefine's SA portfolio is Green Star certified 'These buildings do more than perform well – they show what's possible when partners collaborate and share responsibility to achieve sustainability goals,' explains Mpakanyane. Green buildings deliver results According to the 2024 MSCI Green Index, Green Star certified Prime and A Grade offices delivered a 10.1% total return, outperforming non-certified assets by 120 basis points. Furthermore, sustainable real estate provides proven long-term value and resilience, having outperformed non-certified spaces by 28.2% since 2016. A future that works for all For Redefine, sustained green building success is a shared responsibility. We collaborate with our tenants to manage resources, increase efficiency, and support shared sustainability goals. Live the upside. Partner with Redefine to build with people for purpose. Contact us:
IOL News
24-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
More than 7 000 buildings registered for energy performing certificates
Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy, Samantha Graham-Maré, announced that as of 21 July 2025, more than 7,000 public and private buildings have registered for an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). This is in anticipation of the deadline of December 7. The EPC is part of the Department of Electricity and Energy's (DEE) and South African Energy Development Institute's (Sanedi) priority to drive energy efficiency in South Africa. Acknowledging the environmental challenges posed by differing climate policies globally, the Commission is keen to ensure that substantial carbon emissions do not simply shift from the European Union (EU) to nations with less stringent regulations. Since its launch in December 2020 until July 21, 7,113 buildings have registered, and 3,884 EPCs have been issued. Of these, Gauteng leads with 1,689, followed by the Western Cape with 1,565. The Northern Cape has the fewest, with only 11 EPCs issued. Buildings registered and issued EPCs in other provinces are: - Kwa-Zulu Natal 305 - Eastern Cape 111 - Mpumalanga 64 - Free State 55 - Limpopo 47 - North West 37 Under the Regulation, Mandatory Display and Submission of Energy Performance Certificates, in the National Energy Act, 1998 (Act no. 34 of 2008), all state-owned buildings that are 1000m2 and owners of commercial buildings of 2000m2 that fall under the occupancy classifications: A1 – Entertainment and public assembly; A2 – Theatrical and indoor sport; A3 – Places of instruction and G1 – Offices, are required to register their buildings and publicly display EPCs by 07 December 2025. The purpose of EPCs include: Indicates the energy performance of a building, Serve as regulatory tools/instruments targeting inefficient buildings, encouraging transformation towards energy-efficient buildings, Are indicators for building owners to note and change their consumption patterns to benefit financially and comply with regulations, and In the long term, they promote the reduction of Greenhouse gas emissions through the implementation of energy efficiency interventions using reliable data from existing EPCs. Deputy Minister Graham-Maré said: 'With only five months left before registrations close, large building owners need to prioritise this. We aim to reach 60,000 registrations by the closing date. I am working with the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Mcpherson, and will also be working with Premiers and Mayors to ensure that this issue gets immediate attention. There is an opportunity for all South Africans to play a vital role in reducing carbon emissions and benefit from the programme. 'I urge all building owners, both public and private, to adopt and implement alternative and energy-saving methods. We need to be creative and innovative so that we save on energy. Some practical ways to do this include installing LED bulbs and smart geysers, fitting solar panels, and turning off appliances when they are not in use. I encourage anyone to engage my department about the programme and how they can implement this initiative,' concluded Deputy Minister Graham-Maré.
New Statesman
04-07-2025
- Business
- New Statesman
Meeting missions. Creating jobs. Building careers.
Photo Credit: Fife College / Shell UK On the surface, Julie Lansdell and Dylan Reid appear to have little in common. Julie, now in her sixties, has balanced a working life with bringing up three children, holding down a series of jobs including an 11-year stint as an administrative officer at a local county court in Norfolk. Dylan, in the early stages of his career, lives nearly 400 miles north on the east coast of Scotland. He most recently worked at a global distribution centre in Dunfermline. Different ages, different backgrounds, but Julie and Dylan share three things in common: they both possess entrepreneurial spirit, they have a keen awareness of energy-related issues and a sense of responsibility to foster sustainable practices, and they've both received training through Shell UK's SkillsTransition programme. Julie recently completed a four-week Domestic Energy Advisor Level 3 course, part of the Shell UK-funded Energise employability programme. Delivered by charity partner Catch22, the Energise programme seeks to power careers in the energy transition by supporting people – especially those facing employment barriers – into jobs. Through Energise, Catch22 supports learners across London, Liverpool, Manchester and Norfolk, where Julie now runs her own small business as a domestic energy advisor. After a period of unemployment, and struggling with confidence issues, Julie was looking for a different career path. In her new role, she assesses the efficiency of residential properties and produces Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs). 'The course has given me the opportunity to follow my dream and have my own business. It's perfect,' she said. 'I developed confidence, interview techniques and gained an understanding of the hidden jobs market. This helped me believe in myself and increased my drive.' Dylan, meanwhile, is enrolled at one of Shell UK's Energy Transition Skills hubs, at Fife College. He is studying for a national certificate in engineering systems with renewables, which will arm him with the practical experience and theoretical knowledge needed to pursue a career in electrical engineering. The NC level 5 course offers an introduction to renewable energy technology including wind, solar, and battery storage. Students develop electrical and mechanical skills and progress into a higher-level qualification, move into a modern apprenticeship or start a trainee role within a renewables business. Dylan's ambition is to become a self-employed electrician. The Energise programme and the hub in Fife are two distinct examples of Shell UK's SkillsTransition programme, which is focused on supporting 15,000 people into jobs with a focus on the energy transition by 2035. In doing so, Shell UK is assisting the government's growth and clean energy missions. As Skills England makes clear, clean energy skilled workers are essential if the government is to meet its Clean Energy Mission to deliver clean power by 2030 and accelerate the economy to net zero. If the UK is to move successfully to net zero by 2050 – and support an estimated 1.18 million newly created green jobs – it must meet an exacting challenge. Without the right investment, a skilled workforce and access to jobs, we risk leaving people behind and failing to meet the mid-century target. This is the skills gap Shell UK wants to help close. Shell UK's ambition involves ongoing commitment and investment in initiatives led by further education colleges, charities, and other skills bodies. Dylan is a beneficiary of the investment in further education colleges. Fife College is home to one of three UK-wide Energy Transition skills hubs Shell UK has helped create. The others are in Pembrokeshire and, opening later in 2025, Aberdeen. Taken together, they provide students with the opportunity to learn and refine critical capabilities. They each deliver specialist energy transition skills, including welding and fabrication in Aberdeen; community-level nano grid energy system design in Fife; and control room systems operations in Pembrokeshire. Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month Subscribe Beyond the skills hubs, Shell UK works with third-party organisations like Catch22, a partnership which has proved to be so successful for Julie. Other specialist employability partners include Breaking Barriers, UpReach, Shaw Trust and Good People. Shaw Trust, for example, delivers short courses to support diverse groups of people with the soft skills they need to help them get into work and to understand the range of jobs available in the energy sector. The Shell UK SkillsTransition programme aims to reach people from a range of backgrounds and, to date, has supported over 4,000 people across the UK – people like Julie and Dylan – with many more to come. Like Julie, Dylan believes the impact his course is having is huge. Not only has the course taught him practical skills, but it has also helped him fully understand what he wants to do in the future, cementing his commitment to play a role in the energy transition. He said: 'I have learnt many things that I had never had experience with before, including the electrical principles theories. The best part of this course for me is being able to develop my practical wiring skills even more.' The Shell UK SkillsTransition programme provides opportunities to ensure people are at the heart of the energy transition. Read more about these programmes at: Related
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How to improve your EPC rating in seven steps
Every UK property is legally required to have an EPC assessment if you are selling it, renting it out or it's been newly built. EPCs are reported as grades, and they're calculated based on two factors: the amount of energy used per square metre, and the level of carbon emissions per year (measured in tonnes). Not only are more energy-efficient properties cheaper to run, they can also command higher house prices and may be eligible for 'green mortgages', which can come with preferential rates. However, the system has garnered criticism and is particularly disliked by landlords, who may need to spend thousands to hit Labour's EPC targets. The Government is currently consulting on an overhaul of the system, with the Home Energy Model due to be unveiled in 2026 – and a new assessment process introduced this year means achieving the coveted 'C' grade is more difficult than ever. Here, Telegraph Money explains the steps you can take to improve an EPC. What are EPC ratings? Why should you consider improving your EPC? Seven-step guide to improving your EPC Energy Performance Certificate FAQs EPC ratings refer to Energy Performance Certificates. Properties are assessed on a range of factors, including ventilation, property size, layout, windows, doors and lighting, among others. Properties are scored on a scale of 1 to 100, and given a letter rating from A (extremely efficient) to G (extremely inefficient). The average EPC rating for properties in England and Wales is 'D'. The ratings system itself has also garnered criticism, with consumer group Which? branding it 'inaccurate and misleading.' For landlords however, EPCs present a challenge. Currently, a minimum grade of 'E' is required for rental accommodation, but the current Government has resurrected the requirement for it to be 'C' or above by 2030. For new tenancies, requirements kick in from 2028. This could cost investors thousands of pounds – particularly if they own older buildings, which tend to be less energy-efficient. The work needed could involve anything from insulating a property's attic, at a cost of a few hundred pounds, to overhauling its energy network and installing a heat pump and solar panels. The Government is consulting on a complete overhaul of the EPC system. Reforms suggested by Labour include several metrics previously overlooked by current EPCs, including insulation quality and carbon emissions, as well as 'the capacity to integrate with smart technology', such as smart meters and dynamic energy tariffs. The consultation published by Labour this month, said: 'Smart meters, intelligent appliances like EV charging points, solar PV battery storage, and heat pumps – along with smart tariffs and services – will enable and encourage users to adapt their consumption patterns to match periods of cheap, abundant low-carbon electricity supply.' While making EPC improvements can cost money, there are financial advantages to a higher rating: Lower running costs. The process should lower your energy bills – and if you choose to do something like installing solar panels or a home battery, you could even make money from the selling extra energy they produce back to the National Grid. Preferential mortgage rates. If you qualify for a green mortgage, you might get offered better interest rates. You could also get a better price when you come to sell. Higher property values. Potential buyers are known to value potential energy savings and a higher EPC grade can suggest that recent work has been done on the property. Avoiding fines. As a landlord, you can face a hefty penalties for properties that aren't up to scratch. Identifying opportunities. Your own EPC will suggest changes that could upgrade your property's efficiency and help it reach a higher rating. There are lots of things you can do to improve your property's energy efficiency – while some are simple, like changing the lightbulbs you use, some will be larger projects. Upgrade to energy-efficient lighting Insulate your roof and walls Invest in double or triple-glazed windows Upgrade to a more efficient boiler Install underfloor heating Implement smart heating controls Explore renewable energy options Energy-efficient lighting refers to replacing your current lightbulbs to LED equivalents. According to the Energy Saving Trust (EST), switching to 50-watt halogen bulbs could save you £4 per lightbulb over the course of a year. This change is becoming less of a choice and more of a necessity, since companies are no longer allowed to manufacture inefficient halogen lightbulbs. The only instances where you might still see them is where shops are still selling their old stock. As part of the Reduced Data Standard Assessment Procedure (RdSAP) 10 changes introduced on June 15 2025, EPC assessors will be required to count the number of lightbulbs in a property, and record whether they are LEDs or not. Around the house, the EST says it's still common to find inefficient bulbs in ovens, cooker hoods and security lights. The insulation a house might require depends on when it was built; it is considerably more expensive for older homes. Those built after the 1920s typically have cavity walls, which cost around £1,000 to insulate. Solid walls, more common in older houses, cost about £12,000 to insulate externally and £8,500 internally, excluding redecorating costs. Floor insulation is between £1,600 and £2,900 for a typical 'suspended' floor. Following the aforementioned RdSAP 10 changes introduced in June 2025, energy assessors will be required to record whether individual walls are exposed or sheltered. The new criteria also require assessors to measure the thickness of walls to the nearest 25mm, with a minimum value of 10mm. Assessors must also record whether any top floor rooms are 'true in roof' (meaning there are no walls) or if it is a 'room in roof' (meaning it has walls at least 1.8m high). Lastly, PdSAP 10 requires assessors to record ventilation entries beyond open fireplaces, including blocked chimneys, open flues, extract fans, passive stack vents, and flueless gas fires. Insulation costs can be trimmed by sourcing cheaper materials. Savvy landlords can salvage insulation from local building works that would otherwise end up in a skip by using online marketplaces such as Facebook or Gumtree. Some are slashing their maintenance costs by 25pc by collecting building materials that would otherwise be thrown away. Apps have been developed for this very purpose, such as Sustainability Yard, where materials being traded for up to 80pc less than when they are new, with 30pc going for free. One of the best ways to protect your home from draughts and heat – not to mention noisy neighbours – is by investing in your windows. As of June 2025, assessors are required to measure every window, and record orientation, frame type (i.e. PVC), glazing type and gap, how old the glazing is, draught proofing, whether or not the window has shutters, and the location within the property. There are different window ratings, which reveal the cost and energy efficiency. For example, a set of 'A-rated' windows for a semi-detached house will typically cost around £7,500. However, the EST estimates that in an entirely single-glazed semi-detached property with gas heating, adding A-rated double glazing could save £195 a year and 330kg of carbon dioxide. If your property is a listed building, or in a conservation area, you may need to consider specialist double glazing options that match the design and thickness of the original windows. Swapping out a gas boiler for a heat pump is a big decision – and one many homeowners will eventually face. New-build homes will not be built with gas boilers from 2025, although the Government has shelved a proposed ban on replacing them in existing homes. Heat pumps are the alternative. Households in England and Wales can get up to £7,500 to put towards the switch via the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which is due to run until 31 December 2027. The EST recommends homes should be property insulated, with bigger radiators and underfloor heating before a heat pump is installed, which could add thousands to the cost of a switch. Underfloor heating can work with a heat pump or gas boiler, and it can be a more efficient way to heat a room than radiators. However, it can also be expensive and messy to install. You can opt for electric or water underfloor heating. Electric involves a wire being connected to the mains, which heats up when the system is turned on. It can be easier and cheaper to install, and is quicker to warm up. According to Checkatrade, the average installation cost for electric underfloor heating as part of a renovation will set you back between £60-£85 per square metre. Water underfloor heating works via a network of pipes. When they are filled with warm water, the pipes heat up and spread that heat to the flooring. This can take a while, and the system is expensive to install. Checkatrade says it costs an average of £135-£185 per square metre as part of a renovation. However, it can have cheaper running costs once in place. There's little point using energy to heat rooms that no one's in, which is why smart heating systems that allow homeowners to boost the temperature in certain rooms and at specific times of day are becoming increasingly popular. Some can be controlled via smartphone apps. This can be handy if your plans change because you can delay or bring forward when the heating comes on. Implementing smart technology into your home will also benefit your EPC in the long run, as Labour's proposed Home Energy Model is planned to favour such technology. Solar panels are one of the most common sources of renewable energy, costing £5,500 on average according to the EST. This depends on the type of panel, the size of the area covered and any difficulties with access to the roof. The opportunity to create your own energy can help reduce your bills, and it's also possible to sell what you don't use. However, this will require an energy storage system, which usually includes a battery that allows you to capture the energy generated. In terms of cost savings, you'll need to weigh up the battery installation cost and the fact that some last longer than others. The EST suggests asking an installer to tell you the predicted lifespan and cost savings before going ahead with any battery storage purchases. Other renewable energy options include wind turbines and hydroelectricity. Research by Knight Frank suggests that improving an EPC rating can add up to £20,000 to the property's value – thanks to buyers valuing the potential energy savings and recognising that a higher EPC grade suggests recent maintenance has been carried out. The average EPC rating for properties in England and Wales is 'D'. There can be significant savings if you're able to improve your rating. Currently, landlords must make sure accommodation is rated 'E' or above. By 2030, a minimum grade of 'C' will be required for all rental homes, but for new tenancies the required grade must be met by 2028.
