Organisation name: Cardiff University
Submitted: 02/06/2009 by LangleyA@cardiff.ac.uk
- Organisation core business: Education, R&D
- What will the project do?: The work proposed by the project has arisen from previous work undertaken that has identified the need to address the landlord tenant issue for improving environmental performance in the commercial sector. Previous research undertaken by the proposed project team identified that the commercial lease agreement was a systemic barrier to environmental improvement and energy efficiency in the commercial sector. This led to the development of 3 published Good Practice Guides, the latest on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government. These three good practice guides were produced in partnership with key players and represent a significant step towards achieving Welsh low carbon policy (the first pair produced in partnership with Eversheds, King Sturge, the Environment Agency Wales and RICS Foundation and funded by the Carbon Trust; the third partnered by Eversheds, British Council for Offices and RICS, funded by the Welsh Assembly Government). At a strategic level, we envisage this work to encourage greater energy conservation and resource efficiency through environmental management programmes whilst minimising environmental risks and constraints in two key sectors (commercial and social sector housing) aligned with Welsh Assembly Policies and Strategies. The project will achieve this through encouraging adoption of environmental best practice and energy efficiency into the commercial lease contract between landlord and tenant within the proposed areas of operation. The project will also work with registered social sector housing enterprises to provide an innovative approach aimed at encouraging greater energy conservation. This project will address an identified gap in the market which is not currently being addressed in this innovative way. The project team are familiar with the work and would be able to undertake tasks immediately with a view to achieving the project outputs. Furthermore, through engaging with relevant stakeholders, the work can reach into a new area, the social sector housing. The dissemination of the methodology contained within the Good Practice Guides to the commercial sector will assist many enterprises with the adoption of a sustainable and innovative approach that encourages reductions in resource consumption. As much as 70% of the commercial building stock is leased therefore this work will target a wide audience, contributing to the Welsh Assembly's Government's overall reduction targets. Furthermore, the inclusion of social sector housing into the dissemination and project work will help to establish pilot schemes within a sector that requires innovative methods focused on energy efficiency and green technology in line with recent changes to EU legislation. This work will reach a wide audience, particularly in light of the transfer of Council housing stock to Residential Social Landlords.
- Regional area(s) to be covered by the project: South East Wales
- Who will be the end beneficiaries?: Commercial sector enterprises, local authorities, Welsh Assembly Government, registered social sector enterprises.
- Who will be involved in delivering the project?: Cardiff University, Eversheds, Consortium of Local Authorities Wales (CLAW), Energy Saving Trust, Carbon Trust, Environment Agency, Swansea Metropolitan University, Glamorgan University, UWIC, University of Wales College of Newport. Consultations have been held with the Environment Agency Wales and the Energy Saving Trust. Further consultations will include the Carbon Trust, Eversheds, respective Local Authorities and the British Council for Offices (who have expressed a wish to diversify and integrate their activities into Wales).
- What might be the outputs (activity measures) of the project?: Enterprises assisted - 200 to comprise commercial landlords, tenants, social sector housing enterprises, investors, facilities management enterprises, surveyors. We would also envisage staging a number of targeted events to fully publicise the work, and identify a number of buildings to use as case studies for the various methodologies of greening the commercial lease / assessment of the efficacy of methods within social sector enterprises.
- What might be the results of the project?: The project will aim to achieve the following results - confirmation of targets will be provided once all consultations have been undertaken: Gross jobs created - 15. Energy saved - based on best practice being implemented within enterprises assisted, a minimum of 20% energy savings. Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions - in proportion to the energy saving. Enterprises adopting or improving equality strategies and monitoring systems - it is envisaged that 40 enterprises will be assisted. Enterprises operating environmental management systems at a level that requires monitoring and reporting of carbon emissions - it is envisaged that the project will assist a minimum of 100 enterprises.
- What would the project's impact be?: Net jobs created - 15. Net reduction in green house gas emissions - in proportion with energy savings. This project will address an identified gap in 2 large key sectors spanning large areas of within the convergence areas of Wales. The project team are familiar with the work and would be able to undertake tasks immediately and as such the impact on stakeholders and beneficiaries can start to be realised relatively quickly.
- What is the project estimated cost?: £3,000,000