What we do

Sustainability

We are working hard to reduce our impact on the climate

Buildings are the single largest contributor to carbon emissions, with 17% of UK emissions coming from non-domestic buildings. (DECC, Government response to the first annual progress report by the Committee on Climate Change, January 2010)

The development and operation of buildings has a significant impact on the environment.

The two million non-domestic buildings and 26 million dwellings in the UK contribute to just under half of all carbon emissions, so a move to increase the efficiency of the building stock is crucial to curbing emissions.

With only up to two per cent of commercial buildings being replaced each year, most of the buildings standing today will still be standing in 50 years' time.

BPF's sustainability focus can be broken down into six areas:

1. Demonstrating the business case for sustainability
2. Measuring and reporting on sustainability performance
3. Improving behaviour to drive efficient energy usage
4. Retrofitting existing buildings
5. Low carbon energy and security of supply
6. Dealing with the increasing risk of flooding

The BPF has articulated its position on public policy and industry voluntary activities designed to promote a sustainable non-domestic built environment in a <Low Carbon New Non-Domestic Buidlings Manifesto> and a <Sustainable Existing Non-Domestic Buildings Manifesto>.
 

The BPF is a member of the Green Property Alliance (GPA) and provides secretariat to the group. The GPA also includes the British Council of Shopping Centres, British Council for Offices, British Retail Consortium, Investment Property Forum, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and UK Green Building Council.

The BPF is also involved in the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Construction and Real Estate Sector Supplement process.

We have been working hard to improve understanding of the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) within the property industry, particularly in relation to the landlord/tenant split and its implications for the effectiveness of the CRC.

We launched the Landlord’s Energy Statement and Tenant’s Energy Review (www.les-ter.org.uk) initiative in association with the Carbon Trust to pave the way towards implementation of display energy certificates.

And we believe there needs to be a clearer distinction between Building Regulations and the planning system.