View Point: Energy efficiency need not be won at the expense of our cities

Dec 12 2007 by John Lea senior director at CB Richard Ellis in Liverpool, Liverpool Daily Post

IN A recent sustainability study by Forum for the Future, Liverpool came in a dismal last place in a list of the UK’s major cities, rated 13th on environmental impact, 18th on quality of life and bottom for future proofing.

Our climate change strategy earned a grand total of zero points, while our rating for green business reached a measly four (the highest score was 20, achieved by Bristol).

Meanwhile, WWF research tells us that even the greenest cities in the UK aren’t doing enough to tackle climate change, and if the results from Liverpool were extrapolated worldwide, we would need almost three planets to sustain us (2.92, to be precise, in comparison with a national average of 2.78).

And property has a significant part to play in the figures, with the size of building and the take-up of energy saving measures like cavity-wall insulation taken into consideration.

Pressure is growing on all sides for developers to clean up their act, and the Government and regulators are taking action. Energy performance certificates are coming in for commercial property, rents will be determined on the environmental grading of the building and tenants are becoming more conscious of developers’ green credentials by the day.

This is all well and good for new-builds, which can embrace energy efficiency in their initial planning. But for older buildings, whether it’s a ’60s office block or a Victorian conversion, it’s a different story.

There is a market for secondary office space, but there is bound to be a shift upwards in terms of specification for those that are renovated.

Of course, there are a fair few buildings that would be missed by nobody, where a shiny new glass development would be a welcome replacement.

But there are also some beautiful constructions around, and it would be a crying shame if the majority of these were lost in the rush to modernise rather than looking at updating them sensitively.

Climate change is, of course, a serious issue that demands our urgent action. But, in the commercial property market, we must try to make energy efficiency a part of our development without sacrificing our cities.