“There’s a secret dogging British buildings with some of the most coveted environmental ratings: On paper they’re green, but scratch the surface and they’re red hot.”

The first sentence in this Bloomberg article, referencing recent research from the Better Buildings Partnership, cuts to the chase. A high EPC rating may identify the potential for high energy efficiency in a building, but that is often undermined by actual use. It is a reminder of the need for change, something that is already on the discussion table i.e. the possibility of “next generation” EPCs that measure actual, as well as potential, performance. Could and should regulation go further? The prospect of an annual emissions cap for buildings, as per existing laws in New York (with the threat of fines for breach) is an interesting idea. 

Taking a quote from the article: “It’s like buying a hybrid car and only running it on petrol”. It sums up, in one sentence, the need for regulation that is based on the true environmental performance of an asset, not a building green on paper only.