On 15 October, the government published a consultation on
tightening minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES) for
commercial properties.
Click
here for a copy of the consultation. Responses must be
submitted by 7 January 2020 and we strongly encourage all
interested parties to respond.
The consultation focuses on two key questions:
- What should the minimum standard of energy efficiency for
all commercial properties be in 2030; and
- How should we get there?
The government's clear preference is that the minimum
standard should be an EPC band B by 2030, but it is also
consulting on an EPC band C as an alternative (it is currently
EPC band E).
Implementation would be based on current MEES legislation so
existing exemptions would still apply, such as the consent
exemption. Landlords would not be forced to undertake energy
efficiency improvements that did not meet the existing seven year
payback test for cost-efficiency. However, the government
asks
