IEA Ltd recently completed an assessment of a monster site in South Yorkshire for their client Willowbrite Ltd whose own client HSI UK Active Property Fund - Audby are actively seeking a buyer. The site comprised a prestigious 4 storey 31,000 sq ft, rain screened office block with complex air handling services throughout the building and a further 5 industrial buildings ranging from 103,000 sq ft to 6,000 sq ft with varying degrees of complexity.

The total for the whole site amounted to over 300,000 sq ft and was on 5.25 hectares!

When asked to comment on the assessment Tom Whelan said it’s a great site to have won, although it presents a number of challenges. There are both level 3 and level 4 buildings on the site, some having scale plans and others not. With a wide variety of Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning we need to be careful to ensure we get the best rating for each individual building, as each building is important no matter how big or small it is.

DCLG confirmed to IEA that ‘currently 3000 commercial EPCs a week are being registered with Landmark’.

IEA also confirm ‘high levels of compliance’ within its own client base and confirms a continuing high level of enquiries.

IEA announce its ISO 14001 service.

IEA Environmental provides organisations with a framework for achieving accreditation under ISO 14001 - Environmental Management Systems (EMS).

Organizations of all kinds are increasingly concerned with achieving and demonstrating sound environmental performance by controlling the impacts of their activities, products and services on the environment, consistent with their environmental policy and objectives. They do so in the context of increasingly stringent legislation, the development of economic policies and other measures that foster environmental protection, and increased concern expressed by interested parties about environmental matters and sustainable development.

Many organizations have undertaken environmental “reviews” or “audits” to assess their environmental performance. On their own, however, these “reviews” and “audits” may not be sufficient to provide an organization with the assurance that its performance not only meets, but will continue to meet, its legal and policy requirements. To be effective, they need to be conducted within a structured management system that is integrated within the organization.

International Standards covering environmental management are intended to provide organizations with the elements of an effective EMS that can be integrated with other management requirements and help organizations achieve environmental and economic goals.

IEA Environmental parent company Independent Energy Assessors Ltd has had much success in providing energy performance advice to its customers and this resource places us in a unique position in providing Environmental Management Systems as a whole package.

Call us now to discuss the benefits to your business in achieving a successful environmental management system.

Source: IEA & ISO policy document.

Tom Whelan CEO of IEA welcomes new government guidance anounced on the 9th September 2008.

 “This new transitional arrangement will give our customers an opportunity to apply the new EPBD and government regulations in a structured way, engaging us on properties which are actually in a transaction and have an immediate requirement, whilst prioritising those still being marketed, giving the commercial property market much needed time to make this adjustment”.

Mr Whelan further stated;

“over the last  month we have seen a significant increase in the number of enquiries from around the country in relation to EPCs, indicating that there will be a high degree of compliance with the new regulations”.

The guidance from CLG was as follows;

On Tuesday, 9 September 2008 regulations on EPCs were updated to respond to consumer and industry needs. These will come into force for October 2008 and include:

• extending the validity period of the EPC for homes when marketed for sale - currently one year - to three years (this has been the result of extensive consultation)
• clarifying arrangements for the October roll-out for commercial buildings already on the market which will be similar to those put in place in April and July. This means that any non-domestic building on the market before 1st October and remaining on the market will need an EPC by 4th January at the latest. If it is sold or rented out in the meantime, an EPC must be commissioned and then handed over as soon as is practicable. This measure is intended to make it easier for owners and landlords to comply with the legislation, avoid market fluctuations and is in response to expectations from the industry.

Source: IEA/CLG