Making commercial property more efficient - Revision history

Designing Buildings at 08:05, 5 February 2021

2021-02-05T08:05:22Z

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	--[[User:Trident_Building_Consultancy\|Trident Building Consultancy]]		--[[User:Trident_Building_Consultancy\|Trident Building Consultancy]]

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Designing Buildings at 07:06, 14 January 2020

2020-01-14T07:06:38Z

Show changes

Editor: moved Making your commercial property more efficient to Making commercial property more efficient: better

2020-01-13T12:41:28Z

moved Making your commercial property more efficient to Making commercial property more efficient: better

← Older revision

Revision as of 12:41, 13 January 2020

Editor at 12:37, 13 January 2020

2020-01-13T12:37:34Z

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	=== Lighting ===		=== Lighting ===

−	* ~~[https://www.bestcompliance.co.uk/best-compliance-portal/best-compliance-guides/know-your-lighting/~~ Changing to LED or compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) technology.]	+	* Changing to LED or compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) technology.
	* Maximise the use of daylight, where necessary combined with passive solar shading, to reduce the need for air conditioning.		* Maximise the use of daylight, where necessary combined with passive solar shading, to reduce the need for air conditioning.
	* Use dimming lighting controls and PIR systems to allow lighting levels to be adjusted in relation to external daylight.		* Use dimming lighting controls and PIR systems to allow lighting levels to be adjusted in relation to external daylight.

Editor at 12:36, 13 January 2020

2020-01-13T12:36:55Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:36, 13 January 2020
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	=== Lighting ===		=== Lighting ===

−	~~<ul>~~	+	* [https://www.bestcompliance.co.uk/best-compliance-portal/best-compliance-guides/know-your-lighting/ Changing to LED or compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) technology.]
−	~~<li>===~~ [https://www.bestcompliance.co.uk/best-compliance-portal/best-compliance-guides/know-your-lighting/ Changing to LED or compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) technology.] ~~===~~	+	* Maximise the use of daylight, where necessary combined with passive solar shading, to reduce the need for air conditioning.
−	~~</li>~~	+	* Use dimming lighting controls and PIR systems to allow lighting levels to be adjusted in relation to external daylight.
−	~~<li>~~Maximise the use of daylight, where necessary combined with passive solar shading, to reduce the need for air conditioning.~~</li>~~	+
−	~~<li>~~Use dimming lighting controls and PIR systems to allow lighting levels to be adjusted in relation to external daylight.~~</li></ul>~~	+

	=== Glazing ===		=== Glazing ===

Editor at 12:36, 13 January 2020

2020-01-13T12:36:22Z

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	* Addressing draughts.		* Addressing draughts.

−	=== ~~[https://www.bestcompliance.co.uk/best-compliance-portal/best-compliance-guides/know-your-lighting/~~ Lighting] ===	+	=== Lighting ===

−	=== [https://www.bestcompliance.co.uk/best-compliance-portal/best-compliance-guides/know-your-lighting/ Changing to LED or compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) technology.] ===	+	<ul>
−		+	<li>=== [https://www.bestcompliance.co.uk/best-compliance-portal/best-compliance-guides/know-your-lighting/ Changing to LED or compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) technology.] ===
−	* Maximise the use of daylight, where necessary combined with passive solar shading, to reduce the need for air conditioning.	+	</li>
−	* Use dimming lighting controls and PIR systems to allow lighting levels to be adjusted in relation to external daylight.	+	<li>Maximise the use of daylight, where necessary combined with passive solar shading, to reduce the need for air conditioning.</li>
		+	<li>Use dimming lighting controls and PIR systems to allow lighting levels to be adjusted in relation to external daylight.</li></ul>

	=== Glazing ===		=== Glazing ===

Editor at 12:35, 13 January 2020

2020-01-13T12:35:16Z

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−	\| [[File:~~Cleaning windows~~.jpg]]	+	\| [[File:Cleaning_windows.jpg\|link=File:Cleaning_windows.jpg]]
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	=== [https://www.bestcompliance.co.uk/best-compliance-portal/best-compliance-guides/know-your-lighting/ Lighting] ===		=== [https://www.bestcompliance.co.uk/best-compliance-portal/best-compliance-guides/know-your-lighting/ Lighting] ===

−	* Changing to LED or compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) technology.	+	=== [https://www.bestcompliance.co.uk/best-compliance-portal/best-compliance-guides/know-your-lighting/ Changing to LED or compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) technology.] ===
		+
	* Maximise the use of daylight, where necessary combined with passive solar shading, to reduce the need for air conditioning.		* Maximise the use of daylight, where necessary combined with passive solar shading, to reduce the need for air conditioning.
	* Use dimming lighting controls and PIR systems to allow lighting levels to be adjusted in relation to external daylight.		* Use dimming lighting controls and PIR systems to allow lighting levels to be adjusted in relation to external daylight.

Editor at 12:34, 13 January 2020

2020-01-13T12:34:07Z

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		+	\| [[File:Cleaning windows.jpg]]
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	= Introduction =		= Introduction =

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	This article was written by Trident Building Consultancy and uploaded in January 2020.		This article was written by Trident Building Consultancy and uploaded in January 2020.

−	= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki~~<br />~~	+	= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =
−	=	+

	* Building log book.		* Building log book.

Editor at 12:32, 13 January 2020

2020-01-13T12:32:37Z

Show changes

Trident Building Consultancy: Created page with "New year, new efficiencies. If you own, run or occupy a commercial property, you will always benefit from improving your asset. Increase net lettable space There is a direct co..."

2020-01-10T13:31:43Z

Created page with "New year, new efficiencies. If you own, run or occupy a commercial property, you will always benefit from improving your asset. Increase net lettable space There is a direct co..."

New page

New year, new efficiencies. If you own, run or occupy a commercial property, you will always benefit from improving your asset.

Increase net lettable space

There is a direct correlation between the amount of space and the revenue it delivers. But this only applies to usable space, so take time to review your space and consider how you could improve or reapportion it. Pay particular consideration to shared areas which don’t deliver a direct income and identify whether, though providing a mezzanine floor or skylight, you can create additional lettable space.

Consider change of use

Changes in policy have made change of use from commercial to residential use (and others) simple to achieve, in many cases without the need for planning consent. Depending on the market, a change of use can substantially increase your returns. If you’re struggling to attract commercial tenants, consult a property expert and consider the alternatives.

Lease spaces

Consider whether currently under-utilised spaces have the potential to be used by other organisations: a meeting room or car parking spaces will have wide appeal; likewise attractive outside spaces. With some creative thought and marketing, more unusual spaces could have substantial appeal.

Adjust to decrease operating expenses

Review outgoings for the past year and make it your new year’s resolution to minimise them. If you don’t already have energy meters for each tenant, consider how for a minimal cost, you can pass the cost of energy use onto tenants when leases are renewed.

Analyse expenses on a per unit / cost per square foot basis and compare with similar properties, then aim to re-negotiate costs with suppliers. In some cases it may be beneficial to negotiate longer term contracts at more favourable rates.

Maintenance

Deferring maintenance will only save money in the short term. Unplanned repairs, due to the lack of maintenance, will ultimately cost more.

We recommend planned preventative maintenance (PPM): a strategic approach based on a detailed understanding of a building’s lifecycle. PPM can substantially reduce large unexpected costs, emergency call-out charges and downtime during repair work and ensure that a building is maintained to a high standard, and therefore a high value.

Rental levels

Do you have a comprehensive understanding of equivalent market rentals? If not, the likelihood is that your tenants are overdue an increase at their next rent review. If your rents are low but realistic, consider whether changes in the local market provide the opportunity for you to modernise your facilities and increase rent levels.

Bear in mind that substantially increased rents could lead to you losing tenants. In a buoyant market, this could lead to a higher calibre, more credit-worthy tenant, but if handled wrongly (or combined with unfavourable economic circumstances) you could inadvertently decrease your occupancy rate.

Review agents

Is your letting agent performing satisfactorily? A change, as well as resulting in direct savings can provide fresh ideas, leading to efficiencies elsewhere.

Similarly, check that the management company is providing the service expected of them. Poor facilities management may result in tenants defaulting on their service charges, so tackle any issues before they become a serious problem.

Find new tenants

If your building is under-occupied, give some creative thought to (or seek advice on) how to find tenants. You could incentivise new tenants (perhaps with a discounted first month rent rate, a low deposit amount or a short-term lease) or incentivise existing tenants to refer new tenants. The latter may benefit occupier synergy, resulting in tenants remaining for longer.

Energy efficiency

We are frequently called to undertake refurbishments that increase a building’s performance and the following shows some popular adaptations:

Heating and air conditioning

* Upgrading boilers to more efficient models
* Insulating hot water cylinders
* Reducing thermostat deadbands to prevent heating and cooling working simultaneously
* Introducing individual room thermostats or thermostatic radiator valves
* Installing heat recovery units to allow for the transfer of thermal energy
* Using high performance mechanical systems

Thermal elements

* Upgrading insulation to roofs, floors and cavity walls
* Retrofitting external insulation / cladding to solid wall construction
* Addressing draughts

[https://www.bestcompliance.co.uk/best-compliance-portal/best-compliance-guides/know-your-lighting/ Lighting]

* Changing to LED or compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) technology
* Maximising the use of daylight, where necessary combined with passive solar shading to reduce the need for air conditioning
* Utilising dimming lighting controls and PIR systems to allow lighting levels to be adjusted in relation to external daylight.

Glazing

* Replacing single glazed windows with double or triple glazing

Building controls

* Introducing motion sensors and adjusting timings on existing sensors

Renewables

* Introducing solar panels (both photovoltaic and solar thermal), biomass boilers, and air or ground source heat pumps

Metering

* Measuring and monitoring data on energy savings and indoor air quality and evaluating its effectiveness

Ensuring high levels of energy efficiency is not only a legal requirement, but satisfies a number of other objectives including tenant satisfaction, and is one of the many ways in which you can make your building more lucrative.