How to cut carbon emissions from business buildings

Buildings are responsible for around 40 per cent of the UK's carbon emissions, with business properties accounting for around half of that.

There are plenty of simple, low-cost measures you can take to cut energy use within your buildings and lower CO2 emissions. These include installing movement-sensitive light sensors in toilets and other little-used areas and turning down the thermostat by a couple of degrees.

See our guide on Energy efficiency

There may be additional things you can do - such as installing double-glazing and improving roof insulation - to help make buildings more airtight.

You can consider installing Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems, particularly when a planned replacement of boilers or heating systems is due.  Alternatively you could investigate the feasibility of using either Air Source Heat Pumps or Ground Source Heat Pumps to provide carbon free heating if using electricity from renewable sources. 

Energy efficient building regulations

If you are having new premises built, or you are making structural changes to your existing premises, you must make sure they meet the requirements of:

You must make sure you have your air-conditioning systems regularly inspected.

All commercial buildings require an energy performance certificate (EPC) when they are bought, let or sold. An EPC indicates how energy efficient a building and its services are. An EPC also contains recommendations for cost-effective changes that can be made to improve the building's energy efficiency and cut carbon emissions.

You must make sure you obtain an energy performance certificate when you construct, sell or rent buildings, with some exceptions:

In Scotland, owners of non-domestic buildings must assess the energy performance of their buildings and produce an action plan to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. This must be passed on to new owners if the building is sold. There are provisions that make clear when the improvements outlined in the action plan must be carried out. 
Scottish Government: Energy performance of existing non-domestic buildings: information

You may be eligible for a number of tax breaks if you introduce energy efficiency measures. See the page in this guideline: Tax breaks to encourage energy efficiency

Further information

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