Energy Matters | Issue 8 | 2021
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F E AT U R E www.elmhurstenergy.co.uk
Retrofitting Non-Domestic Buildings for Improved Energy Efficiency Josh Wakeling, Head of Operations
Now highly publicised, national targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in response to the threat of climate change require significant improvements to the energy efficiency of the UK’s building stock, including nearly all of its two million non-domestic buildings.
As those of you involved in the industry will already be aware, the British Standards Institution (BSI) published the domestic retrofit specification PAS 2035 in 2019. Following on from this, the obvious next step was for BSI to consider commercial buildings. In August this year, PAS 2038:2021 “Retrofitting nondomestic buildings for improved energy efficiency - Specification” was released.
Non-domestic buildings accommodate a huge variety of activities, and range in size from simple chip shops to large multistorey mixed-use buildings, shopping centres, hospitals, factories, offices and universities. Some buildings are owneroccupied, while others are let to single tenants or accommodate multiple tenants. Some buildings are managed and maintained by their occupants (who may have little knowledge of buildings, or how to improve them), but many are managed and maintained by building professionals, e.g. energy assessors, surveyors, commercial agents or facilities managers. PAS 2038 is aimed at providing a “whole-building” retrofit process that meets key objectives, promoting and defining technical robust and responsible outcomes. These key objectives are: n
Improved comfort, well-being, health and safety (including
fire safety) and productivity of building occupants and visitors n
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Improved functionality, usability and durability of buildings Enabling buildings to use low or zero carbon energy supplies; Minimization of the “performance gap” that occurs when reductions in fuel use, fuel cost and carbon dioxide emissions are not as large as intended or predicted. Improved energy efficiency, leading to reduced fuel use, fuel costs and pollution (especially greenhouse gas emissions associated with energy use) Protection and enhancement of the architectural and cultural heritage as represented by the building stock Reduced environmental impacts of buildings Avoidance of unintended consequences related to any of the above
PAS 2038 will revolutionise the
