Elevating Energy Performance for Marchmont’s Portfolio

Partnership Wins
  • 175 buildings benchmarked, enabling a baseline understanding of current asset performance. 
  • 81 buildings received detailed retrofit advice, tailored to achieve MEES compliance in advance of 2030. 
  • 17 buildings certified as achieving a B rating, with plans for further certifications as additional works are completed. 
  • Calculated -72% Energy Consumption Reductions: 3,035,290 kWh 
  • Calculated -83% Carbon Emissions Reductions: 586,301 kgCO2 
Background 

Marchmont, a distinguished property portfolio manager, partnered with CSR Sustain to improve energy performance across their extensive portfolio of industrial and office buildings. The project aimed to achieve compliance with MEES regulations by elevating building EPC ratings to a minimum of B, well ahead of the 2030 deadline. 

Project Scope and Approach 

Portfolio Benchmarking
CSR Sustain conducted energy performance benchmarking for 175 buildings, which initially ranged from EPC ratings of C to G. This provided a comprehensive understanding of the energy efficiency status and highlighted priority areas for improvement. 

MEES Retrofit Pathway Advice
CSR Sustain developed bespoke retrofit pathway advice for 81 buildings, outlining strategies to achieve a B rating. These pathways addressed both operational inefficiencies and specific challenges unique to the portfolio. 

Post-Completion Certification
Following the implementation of upgrade works, 17 buildings were successfully certified as achieving a B rating, meeting MEES compliance and Marchmont’s sustainability objectives. 

Key Challenges and Solutions 

Marchmont’s portfolio posed unique challenges due to the nature of its properties: 

Industrial Sites with High Heating Demand
The portfolio included primarily warehouses with gas convection heaters and office amenities reliant on gas boilers and radiators. Both systems were energy-intensive and inefficient. 

Cost Constraints on Fabric Upgrades
Fabric improvements, such as insulation or glazing upgrades, were deemed impractical due to high capital costs and minimal impact on EPC ratings. 

Varying Building Characteristics 

No two buildings are the same, with differences in building ages, fabric, business activities, and types of existing HVAC plant. These factors significantly influenced how CSR Sustain approached MEES advice, requiring tailored solutions to find the most cost-effective path to achieve a B rating for each property. 

To overcome these challenges, CSR Sustain implemented innovative solutions: 

  • Electrification of Heating: Gas heating systems were replaced with air-source heat pumps in office amenities and localised electric radiant panels in warehouses. 
  • Lighting Upgrades: Inefficient lighting systems were replaced with LED technology throughout all spaces. 

These strategic interventions significantly enhanced energy performance while adhering to budget constraints. 

Lessons Learned 

Tailored Solutions for Industrial Portfolios: Electrifying heating systems and prioritising lighting upgrades proved critical in addressing the unique challenges of industrial properties. 

Value of Early Action: Starting compliance planning early enabled Marchmont to make incremental, cost-effective improvements across its portfolio. 

Focus on Practicality: Avoiding high-cost, low-return upgrades ensured efficient allocation of resources while meeting MEES requirements. 

 

""We’ve been very pleased with the outstanding work of CSR Sustain. They have been instrumental in providing first-class advice, helping us elevate our commercial property portfolio to achieve B EPC ratings in advance of 2030 targets. We wholeheartedly endorse them as top-tier energy management consultants.""

Tim Clarke , Associate Director at Marchmont Investment Management

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