Office buildings to go green
One hundred public-sector office buildings in London are set to undergo a ‘green makeover’ costing £10m, but cutting on 50,000 tonnes of CO2 and £1m a year in energy bills. London is the first to commit, out of 16 cities that signed up to the Clinton Climate Initiative which aims to make buildings more efficient.
Article in the FT.
The mayor wants to prove that increasing the efficiency of large buildings cannot only cut carbon emissions but also achieve cost savings. If successful, it is hoped the contract will be copied by the private sector.
…The contract will build in guarantees of energy savings over a 10-year period.
The mayor’s advisers believe the contract can pay for itself over time and could stimulate a new market in improving energy efficiency in corporate buildings.
…Under the terms of the contract, the companies will have to plan and implement energy-saving measures for each building, possibly ranging from reducing heat gain and installing energy-efficient lighting and better insulation, to adding “smart” controls for buildings’ services and even sustainable energy systems.
The mayor’s office is expecting international interest in the contract, which is being advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union. International groups such as Honeywell and Siemens have expressed interest in the work for all 16 cities.