RICS updates Ska Rating ahead of Ecobuild
With tenants prepared to pay more for environmentally-friendly office space, landlords should take a look at RICS’ new version of the Ska Rating. It could also help occupiers to save costs.
RICS says the update will help occupiers and owners to better understand the commercial and environmental performance of their office fit-out, by measuring their energy and water consumption in the 12 months following the completion of the project. It will also help them to save costs by targeting a more environmentally-friendly fit-out, and could also enable them to upgrade their original Ska Rating.
The new, occupancy-stage assessment complements the existing design and handover-stage assessments available, and follows a period of industry consultation and ongoing feedback from users, RICS says.
“The updates recognise that the way in which occupiers manage their workspace can either enhance or limit the sustainability measures introduced as part of a green fit-out or refurbishment,” it points out. Projects being completed under the Ska Rating methodology will now be asked to review the Good Practice Measures achieved during the fit-out, including measuring energy and water consumption and the way the office manages its waste and recycling activities.
“Feedback has confirmed this is an element that users really wanted us to introduce because it helps them make the business case for targeting a more positive environmental outcome for their fit-out. Not only is this valuable information for occupiers as it impacts their bottom line, but it’s also vital for landlords as research continues to show that tenants are willing to pay more for occupying ‘green’ workspace,” says Tim Robinson, director of the RICS Information Products Group.
RICS will be running workshops and seminars on Ska rating at Ecobuild, the sustainable design and construction conference at ExCel in London on 1-3 March.
