A business constructing that receives the very best score in a single nation may obtain a grade as much as 4 locations decrease in one other, Savills present in its Impacts analysis programme.
The dearth of standardisation in vitality labelling may even range even inside international locations.
In Belgium, the identical vitality efficiency (measured in kWh/m²/yr) would obtain a ‘C’ score in Flanders however a ‘D’ or ‘F’ in Brussels, because of stricter score thresholds within the Brussels-Capital Area.
Requirements for main vitality consumption in ‘A’-rated workplaces throughout Europe additionally range, leading to buildings that may obtain a grade of ‘A’ in some international locations solely receiving a ‘D’ or ‘E’ in others.
Chris Cummings, director of Savills Earth, mentioned: “The dearth of standardisation in vitality labelling inside the EU, and the UK which additionally makes use of EPC as its primary measure of constructing efficiency, illustrates a wider international downside for cross-border traders and tenants in understanding what constitutes a ‘good’ constructing: if even inside the identical bloc there’s disparities, how can they examine throughout even wider geographies reminiscent of APAC or the US?
“Ideally, traders and occupiers ought to look past the headline EPC grade to look at a constructing’s precise vitality knowledge to get a real image of its relative efficiency.
“In the event that they don’t, they run the chance of excluding buildings which have obtained a decrease score in international locations which exert a ‘more durable’ EPC regime, as they don’t fulfil their sustainability targets, solely to go on to take a constructing out of the country which has a better grade, however in the end is a poorer performer.”
Whereas the EU is implementing a revised Power Efficiency of Buildings Directive (EPBD) which ought to deliver international locations inside its jurisdiction extra into line, Savills mentioned there are prone to nonetheless be discrepancies inside particular person international locations as native political sensitivities, technical challenges, local weather dangers and the character of present constructing inventory imply that sustainability requirements range significantly from one metropolis to a different.
Sarah Brooks, affiliate director, Savills World Analysis, mentioned: “Metropolis-level variations in sustainability requirements can once more current distinct challenges and alternatives for occupiers and traders.
“They need to account for variations in native coverage, market expectations and obtainable incentives of their methods.
“Gaining a aggressive edge typically means exceeding nationwide necessities in addition to aligning with city-level expectations and long-term native sustainability plans. Nuanced due diligence is significant.”
