Beyond compliance counts…when change requires certainty
Real estate regulations don’t do indefinites. Every question needs answering with certainty and confidence. Not just for decision making today. But for the long-term future of a portfolio. Our wide-ranging expertise and multi-discipline team was called on when an investment group purchased a UK estate and compliancy gaps were spotted.
Challenge
An estate of EPCs
Following the purchase, two big questions remained unanswered:
How compliant is the estate with today’s MEES requirements?
What is the potential improvement liability for 2027 Band C and 2030 Band B EPCs?
Historic EPC data had been produced using outdated methodologies. It appeared that over 700 EPCs would be required to meet regulations for the estate. A daunting challenge that would slow down project progress and put wider compliance at risk.
Solution
A more efficient way forward
Instead of trying to solve how we could complete 700 EPCs, we consulted our wider engineering team to find a smarter solution. We wanted to deliver accuracy and a platform for improvement with greater efficiently.
The answer came in taking a thermal envelope approach rather than going unit by unit. With our baseline assessment of the estate, we worked with the client to replace any default values accurately.
Together, we were able to consolidate the estate into 276 EPCs and provide a budget figure for compliance with both Band C and Band B. We successfully demonstrated our approach to the accrediting body who approved our innovative compliance model.
The data that defined the project:
10,000 data points were generated for future planning. The client now understands the efficiencies of their heating systems across the estate and the U values of all of their external walls and roofs.
We created 276 EPCs instead of 700. The project was completed in 10 months and provided greater value for the client.