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Business leaders have called on the prime minister to end foot-dragging on green building standards, ahead of the Queen’s speech on Wednesday.
John Lewis, Marks & Spencer and Whitbread were among the signatories of a letter urging David Cameron to push through mandatory energy efficiency standards (MEPS) for privately rented buildings.
The Energy Act 2011 obliges owners to upgrade properties rated “F” or “G” for energy performance by April 2018. However, government has yet to consult on the policy and the UK Green Building Council (UK GBC) warned further delays would increase the cost of compliance.
Paul King, chief executive of the UK Green Building Council, said: “The introduction of minimum energy performance standards in privately rented commercial buildings represents a huge market opportunity for the UK and industry is already gearing up to meet these key efficiency standards.
“But there are concerns that some within the coalition are dragging their heels on MEPS and delaying its implementation. This could deliver a blow for businesses which are already taking steps to assess their property portfolios and improve poorly performing buildings, as well as the wider property market – with occupiers still facing the higher energy bills that come with energy inefficient buildings.”
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