How to Achieve a Commercial EPC A+ Rating: The Ultimate Landlord’s Guide
How to Achieve a Commercial EPC A+ Rating
Achieving an EPC A+ demonstrates a landlords commitment to sustainability and enables them to offer a best-in-class product and reap the associated rewards.
We have long promoted the “Green Premium” associated with achieving improved EPC ratings. Achieving an EPC A+ provides a swathe of additional benefits which we will address in this article, alongside practical details on how to achieve this rating.
An EPC A+ rating is the highest possible grade on a commercial Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).
It shows that a building has zero or even negative carbon emissions, meaning it either consumes no more energy than it produces or actively generates surplus renewable energy.
To achieve an A+ EPC, a building must go beyond standard efficiency measures (like insulation, efficient lighting, and HVAC systems) and incorporate on-site renewable energy technologies such as solar panels or wind turbines. In many cases, surplus clean energy is exported back to the grid, which offsets remaining energy use and reduces the overall carbon footprint below zero.
EPC A+ is the "Net Zero" gold standard, and is the ultimate way to future-proof your asset, slash operational costs, and attract premium tenants who are increasingly driven by sustainability commitments.
But how do you actually get there? At Hollen+, we combine market leading technical energy modelling with commercial asset management expertise to help you navigate this journey.
We explore how to achieve an A+ rating across the three core commercial sectors.
1. Office Assets: Precision and Control
Offices often have high cooling and lighting demands. Moving from a standard rating to an A+ requires a shift from "efficient" to "intelligent."
Dynamic Simulation Modelling (DSM): To achieve the best possible EPC result, a standard Level 3 or 4 assessment won't cut it. You need Level 5 EPC modelling to accurately simulate how heat gain through glazing and ventilation strategies impact your specific building.
The "All-Electric" Switch: Ditch gas boilers for high-efficiency heat pump technology. This transition is a core component of The Step-By-Step Guide to Commercial EPCs.
Smart Lighting: It’s not just about LEDs anymore. Incorporating daylight harvesting and PIR sensors ensures you aren't paying to light empty desks. We specify the efficiency levels required to achieve EPC A+.
2. Industrial & Logistics: The Power of the Roof
Industrial units, often large, single-storey boxes face unique challenges with heating and high ceilings.
However, they also possess the greatest asset for an A+ rating: Huge Roofs!
Onsite Renewables: An EPC A+ rating requires the building to be "carbon neutral" or better. Solar PV panels on expansive warehouse roofs are the most effective way to offset energy use and tip your score into the A+ bracket. We explore solar as a value add strategy here.
Building Envelope: If heated, enhancing roof and wall insulation is critical for retaining heat in large volumes.
Destratification Fans: These help push warm air back down to the floor level, significantly reducing the load on your heating system.
3. Retail Assets: Efficiency in High-Traffic Spaces
Retail spaces often deal with high "internal gains" from lighting and display equipment, alongside constant heat loss from frequently opening doors.
High-Performance Glazing: Upgrading to triple glazing or thermal shopfronts prevents the "street-side" energy drain.
HVAC Heat Recovery: Modern systems can capture waste heat from cooling units and repurpose it for water heating or space heating in other zones.
Sub-metering: Understanding which zones (e.g., stockrooms vs. sales floors) are energy-intensive allows for more granular control and better modelling outcomes.
Why Target A+?
Beyond the environmental benefits, an A+ rating delivers significant commercial advantages:
Green Premiums:
Data shows that "Best-in-Class" green buildings can command higher rents and capital values.
Lower Voids:
Tenants with their own Net Zero targets will overlook inefficient buildings in favour of those that lower their operational emissions.
Lender Incentives:
Many banks now offer discounted "Green Finance" for assets with high EPC ratings.