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An industrial focus is needed to encourage commercial landlords and businesses to take up energy efficiency measures under the Green Deal.

This is one recommendation put forward by Dods Monitoring in its review of the first month of the government’s flagship energy efficiency programme.

“In order to encourage participation from the non-domestic sector, policy makers’ focus needs to be on creating an attractive set of measure,” said Neil Pennell, head of sustainability and engineering at commercial property company Land Securities.

He added that it has so far been a “challenge” for businesses and commercial landlords to take up Green Deal measures due to “shortcomings” of the programme.

Pennell warned if the Green Deal finance debt lies with the building, not the tenant – as is the case in the domestic sector – landlords could be left with an empty property and a loan that needs repaying.

The slow progress of the Green Deal since its launch on 28 January was also highlighted, but the report considers it “too early” to say whether it will meet the government’s ambitions on energy efficiency, saying the scheme “is still in its infancy”.