Energy efficiency

Energy efficiency is not just about hitting environmental targets. Initiatives increasingly reflect wider objectives, such as reducing energy costs, mitigating the impact of future energy price rises and helping businesses become more competitive. Our energy team advises on energy efficiency projects across a range of building types, providing input at all key stages – from initial identification of requirements and procurement through to contract negotiations and delivery. 

Energy efficiency projects are becoming more mainstream in the UK, particularly in the public sector. Self-funded and financed energy saving projects have replaced the previous focus on Government funded initiatives, and there is significant interest in energy performance contracts that can provide both financial and wider benefits while minimising the need for up-front investment.

For many of our clients (including local authorities, NHS Trusts and social landlords) it is not simply about achieving CO2 savings. Properly structured energy performance contracts can address backlog maintenance, improve working environments, create future revenue streams and help reduce the impact of future energy price rises. Energy performance contracts are often complex and long-term opportunities, requiring early legal support to help shape the requirements and draft and negotiate suitable contracts that provide the necessary level of guaranteed savings.

Our experience in drafting and negotiating energy performance contracts (both deemed and guaranteed savings), and dealing with the requirements of financed energy projects, means we are well placed to provide joined up advice on procurement and contract delivery. In the UK market we have advised on single site and multi-site projects, including insulation, lighting, controls, HVAC upgrades, CHP plants and PV installations. We have also advised on wider RHI funded retrofit measures, including biomass boilers and heat pumps. 

Alongside larger scale energy efficiency projects, we are also involved in the structuring and delivery of pilot projects exploring new technology and customer behaviour. We have advised on automated demand control projects in the commercial sector, and also advised on the challenges of 'whole house' retrofit and on-site energy generation initiatives in the residential sector.

We also advise clients on reporting requirements - including Greenhouse Gas Reporting (GHG), the Energy Saving Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) and the Streamline Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) requirements.

In brief

• We act for public and private sector clients (including local authorities, NHS Trusts and social landlords)
• We provide advice at all key stages – from initial identification of requirements and procurement, through to contract negotiations and delivery
• We are experienced in both single site and multi-site projects, including insulation, lighting, controls, HVAC upgrades, CHP plants and PV installations
• We advise on the range of reporting obligations in the UK, including EHG, ESOS and SECR