A new report from the Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA) highlights how commercial and public buildings are being left behind in the race to net zero
Non-domestic decarbonisation is not adequately benefiting from the wealth of investment, funding, and policy support being provided to improve building efficiency, says the BCIA.
Their latest Policy Pulse report shows that, despite £40bn in funding and reforms to standards and regulation, it is domestic buildings that are seeing the greatest benefit.
More consideration for non-domestic decarbonisation is needed
The report praises the direction being taken towards net zero, saying that the introduction of the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard, new regulations in Wales, and the Future Buildings Standard are all steps in the right direction.
This all points to putting more emphasis on building performance, operational outcomes, electrification, and data-driven decision-making.
The lack of consideration for non-domestic buildings is what they call a critical policy gap, and points to the Warm Homes Plan, a long-term plan to make homes more efficient with £15bn behind it, and the fact that no equivalent scheme or framework has been proposed or established for non-domestic buildings.
“Future policy frameworks must fully recognise the role of non-domestic”
Jen Vickers, president of the Building Controls Industry Association, said: “The scale of investment and policy activity currently being directed towards decarbonisation demonstrates just how important buildings have become in the UK’s net zero strategy.
“Across funding, regulation and performance standards, we are seeing a clear shift towards smarter, more efficient buildings that can demonstrate measurable outcomes. This creates significant opportunities for building controls, which play a critical role in reducing energy consumption, improving operational performance and supporting carbon reduction.
“If the UK is to achieve its decarbonisation ambitions, future policy frameworks must fully recognise the role of non-domestic buildings and the technologies, such as building controls, that can help unlock substantial energy and carbon savings.”
Read the BCIA’s report in full here.
The UK must move away from fossil fuels to fully embrace net zero
As fossil fuel prices have been rising since the conflict in the Middle East escalated, the Climate Change Committee has published a new report advising that the costs of achieving net zero will pale in comparison to the impact of a further price shock in fossil fuels.
Nigel Topping CMG, chair of the Climate Change Committee, said: “There has been a lot of public interest in the cost of transitioning to a low-carbon economy. Going through an economic transition is exciting, but a sense of uncertainty about the future is completely reasonable. As such, decision-makers and commentators must use accurate information to inform debates.
“In light of current world events, it’s more important than ever for the UK to move away from being reliant on volatile foreign fossil fuels, to clean, domestic, less wasteful energy.”
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