The move aims to improve the energy efficiency of buildings, and embrace renewable energy associated with retail properties
UK retailers and landlords have joined forces in a bid to make property greener as the country seeks to reduce carbon emissions.
The move, which is part of the British Retail Consortium’s (BRC) Climate Action Roadmap, aims to improve the energy efficiency of buildings, and embrace renewable energy associated with retail properties.
The protocol calls on property owners to improve energy efficiency by working collaboratively and investing in improvements such as insulation, as well as making it easier to share data on energy use.
It also asks them to support greater on-site generation of sustainable energy, exploring options for purchasing renewable energy to drive costs down, and to consider the scope for offsetting carbon emissions through increased on-site biodiversity.
Some of the investments also include building fabric and systems installed in estates, higher EPC ratings, and shared investment in LED lighting and air conditioning.
The BRC’s roadmap, which is supported by more than 75 major retailers, aims to ensure the sector, and its supply chains, are net zero by 2040, a decade ahead of the government’s target for the UK as a whole.
The Net Zero Building Protocol is a great opportunity for retailers and property owners to work together towards a greener future. The protocol is the first of its kind to address the sustainability of retail sites with an ambition to improve energy efficiency and embrace renewable energy, Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the BRC, said.
Melanie Leech, chief executive of British Property Federation, said: Landlords are committed and ambitious about retrofitting properties to improve energy efficiency and deliver on net zero.
She said: We welcome an initiative that brings tenants and landlords together to reduce carbon emissions, as open dialogue and data-sharing will be vital to effective collaboration and delivery.
