It’s all about MEES…

Legislation can be a game changer. While all standards must be adhered to, some government targets require more action that others. Indeed, some require urgent steps to comply…

As you may be aware, the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) came into force in April this year. The government legislation makes it unlawful for a landlord to let or renew a lease on a property if the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating is F or G.

But how do landlords ensure their property meets the mandatory EPC rating of “E” or above?

The simple answer is to make energy efficiency improvements, but it is not always as easy as that. With so many emerging technologies on the market, it can prove difficult to know where to begin and identify which methods are most suitable and cost-efficient, not forgetting what makes a viable return on investment (ROI)…

The start-point has to be a review of existing BMS’ in operation (ones already installed and paid for) to ensure they are set up and operating as they should by controlling the existing plant to optimum efficiency.

This is relatively ‘low-cost’ and starts the process of doing the easy things first before identifying where investment could be made to achieve the maximum energy saving efficient outcomes.

The discussions surrounding MEES have been around for over three years, giving plenty of advance notice and warning to landlords to comply, or otherwise face potential financial penalties of up to £150,000. However, figures from energy firm Arbnco suggest that almost 20% of commercial properties are in danger of not meeting the requirements…

So, what role does the building controls industry play in meeting the stringent MEES legislation? Landlords and building owners in danger of facing large penalties will understandably be in a ‘mild’ panic and will need sound and knowledgeable advice on the best course of action.
The ‘rush’ is on to help landlords comply with legislation and we are best placed to do this. BEMS and building controls are integral in achieving better energy efficiency in a commercial building. Skilled engineers, contractors, consultants and so forth can offer valuable expertise in order to help landlords improve their EPC rating.

The ongoing quest to comply with legislation relies heavily on maximising the full potential of your building. But for a building to perform as intended, there is a need for everyone involved in the design chain to have an understanding of building controls and the benefits they can bring in achieving optimum building performance

This is only the beginning as the government has ambitious targets for buildings to emit close to zero carbon emissions between now and the year 2050. Therefore, ongoing action will need to be taken to ensure a consistent response to challenges by government initiatives which will go a long way in helping the planet get energy consumption and emissions under control.

It is critical that we future-proof our commercial buildings and capitalise on the opportunities of advancing technology. More and more technically sophisticated products are being delivered into the marketplace which will enable legislationtargetsto be met. But skilled engineers can help extract the full potential of using an integratedBMS and help to maximise the benefits available to exceed energy efficiency standards in our sector to continue striving towards excellence.

So, lets embrace the significant opportunities that have arisenfrom MEES to get BMS at the hub of energy management in a building and be central to meeting these efficiency targets. This will continue to put engineering into the spotlight and let us demonstrate and capitalise on our expertise and experience to really shine…