As the world faces the pressing challenge of climate change, the built environment plays a crucial role in reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainability.
Non-domestic buildings, comprising offices, retail spaces, industrial facilities and public sector buildings account for a significant portion of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
To achieve net-zero carbon goals, retrofitting these buildings is essential.
One key standard guiding the retrofit of non-domestic buildings is PAS 2038.
The standard provides a structured approach to retrofitting, ensuring compliance with best practices for energy efficiency improvements. Brighter Compliance, a leading North East consultancy specialising in regulatory and environmental compliance, offers tailored support to help businesses navigate the complexities of non-domestic retrofit and PAS 2038 implementation.
Why Non-Domestic Retrofit is Essential
Reducing Carbon Footprint – Many older UK commercial buildings suffer from poor insulation, outdated heating systems and inefficient lighting leading to excessive energy use. Retrofitting addresses these inefficiencies by integrating modern technologies such as LED lighting, highperformance insulation and renewable energy solutions.
Enhancing Energy Efficiency and Cost Savings – As energy prices continue to fluctuate, retrofitting non-domestic buildings improves energy performance, leading to reduced operational costs.
Regulatory Compliance and Future-Proofing – With commercial landlords needing to achieve an EPC rating of at least ‘E’ and with future policies likely to impose stricter requirements, retrofitting ensures compliance and avoids potential legal and financial penalties.
Improving Occupant Well-being and Productivity – A well-retrofitted building enhances indoor air quality, lighting and thermal comfort, contributing to a healthier and more productive working environment.
Understanding PAS 2038: A Framework for Non-Domestic Retrofit
Developed by the British Standards Institution (BSI), it ensures systematic energy efficiency improvements through a staged process. This framework aligns with the UK’s drive toward net-zero carbon emissions and complements PAS 2035, which focuses on domestic retrofitting.
PAS 2038 encourages a comprehensive evaluation of a building’s energy performance rather than piecemeal upgrades. This ensures integrated improvements for maximum impact.
While the standard requires collaboration among building owners, consultants, contractors, and energy assessors to develop effective retrofit strategies, post-retrofit assessments ensure that energy efficiency measures deliver the intended benefits, avoiding ineffective interventions.
North Tyneside based Brighter Compliance offers expert guidance to businesses and organisations seeking to implement PAS 2038 and optimise their retrofit projects. Having recently been named as the compliance partner of Warmworks, the Managing Agent of the Scottish Government’s national fuel poverty scheme, Warmer Homes Scotland, the Brighter team are using their vast knowledge and experience to support installers within the retrofit sector.
David Stobbs, Brighter’s experienced PAS compliance consultant, commented on the increase in demand for the retrofit standard, ‘As the UK continues their efforts to combat climate change, we have experienced an increase in demand from installers for the PAS 2038 standard.
Offering tailored support to businesses to gain and retain the standard, we work with our clients’ workforce and supply chain to create or enhance their management system, we have a flexible approach and understand that many installers are at different stages of their compliance journey.
The retrofit of non-domestic buildings is no longer optional, it’s a necessity for achieving a sustainable future. With our support, installers can navigate the PAS 2038 process smoothly, unlocking financial savings, regulatory compliance and environmental benefits.’
More information on the PAS 2038 support from Brighter Compliance can be found on their website.
www.brightercompliance.co.uk