DTUK1110

W hatever their personal ‘green’ credentials, most dentists will have heard talk of the Copenhagen climate summit in recent months. But whether you’re a bona fide eco warrior, or you be- lieve that climate change is all just a load of hot air, all practitioners had better sit up and take notice. Decisions that emerge from these talks will affect us all, and the en- ergy efficiency of all com- mercial properties is now in the Government’s firing line. Since October 1 2008, all commercial buildings more than 50 square metres require, by law, a commercial Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) whenever they are built, modi- fied, rented or sold. Accord- ing to The Carbon Trust, this is simply not enough if we are to hit the Government’s target to re- duce CO2 emissions 80 per cent by 2050. Now, the Trust is calling for a massive drive to improve the energy efficiency of commercial buildings, including the imposi- tion of national minimum stand- ards to improve the energy ef- ficiency rating of buildings from grade E to grade C by 2020, and to grade A by 2050. Inefficient properties The UK has one of the oldest and least energy-efficient build- ing stocks in Europe, account- ing for nearly half of the UK’s carbon emissions. Many dentists will be working in these energy- inefficient properties, and if the Carbon Trust’s calls do not fall on deaf ears, practitioners will have to prepare themselves for making some substantial practice alterations. But if this all sounds like too much hard work and expense, especially with so many infection-control regula- tions coming into effect (a con- tentious issue in themselves), practitioners should also consid- er the benefits the EPC can bring to their dental practice. All commercial properties need them, but there are some specific exceptions, details of which can be found in the Gov- ernment’s guidance documenta- tion. EPCs must be provided in the sales literature for the prop- erty, and as such, they act as a catalyst for improving the energy efficiency of a building. Asset ratings The EPC shows the energy effi- ciency of a building as an ‘Asset Rating’ in bands from ‘A’ for most efficient, to a less efficient ‘G’ rat- ing. The certificate also gives a nu- merical indicator of energy per- formance for each building based on its standardised use. A Recom- mendation Report is produced as part of the EPC process – a com- puter-generated document list- ing recommended changes that could improve the asset rating. An Energy Assessor can provide advice and guidance on how best to improve asset ratings, follow- ing an assessment of the property. Most business owners are de- terred by the process of obtaining an EPC. A software model calcu- lates the property’s energy per- formance, using data captured from a site inspection, drawings, specifications and manuals. A ‘zone matrix’ is then created for each floor, which takes into ac- count heating, cooling, lighting and ventilation. This, together with the shape and size of each zone and floor are entered into the software model, together with details of the buildings construc- tion materials. The energy model is generated using the Simplified Building Energy Model (SBEM) which is a tool approved by the Government for this purpose. The main advantage for prac- tice principals that The Carbon Trust wants to promote is that bet- ter ratings translate into higher perceived value in a market that is increasingly environmentally conscious. By installing more energy-efficient lighting, better insulation and modern boiler systems that improve a build- ing’s efficiency, in theory, dentists should experience shorter void periods and higher income for sale prices. A wise move Given the pressure on the Government to get cracking on their carbon reduction commitment, decreasing your practice’s CO2 output would be a wise, pre-emp- tive move to protect your practice’s future selling power. For those practition- ers who want to take things to the next level of sustain- ability, the next stage is to implement low and zero- carbon technologies. With fuel costs rising, the viabil- ity of these improvements is increasingly easy to justify in financial terms. With an EPC, the poten- tial buyers or tenants will be able to get an impartial report of the likely running costs energy use and the likely costs of the existing building. This makes it easier to compare the likely energy costs of occu- pying seemingly similar build- ings. A commercial EPC will also allow sellers and landlords to gain an insight into the areas where energy performance and efficiency could be improved within their property. However, whether or not the practice’s value really does increase along with its ratings, the dentist has no choice but to have their surgery rated and logged on the Government’s central database, as a commer- cial EPC is always required be- fore you can lawfully complete the sale or lease of a non-com- mercial property. Fines for the failure to produce an EPC can be anything from £500 to £5,000 depending on the property’s rateable value. Buying or selling a den- tal practice is a task not to be undertaken lightly, with many potential stumbling blocks on the way. The addition of the new environmental dimen- sion to selling commercial prop- erty only serves to make ma- tters that little bit more complicated. DT April 26-May 2, 2010United Kingdom Edition Midi Premium • piezo scaler and curing light included • 2 handpiece outlets with fibre optics • pneumatic unit based on standard DCI parts • comfortable chair with seamless, artificial leather upholstery • 4 basic movements and 4 programmable settings • porcelain spittoon bowl • only 7% VAT 27 Woodcock Close Birmingham, B31 5EH mobile voicemail fax e-mail office@profi-dental.co.uk RRP £2,210 HIGH SPEED HIGH SPEED TURBINES non-optic £649 RRP £1,170 3x TKD THALIA® push button, single spray, non-return valve, direct connection to Midwest 4-hole HIGH SPEED TURBINES WITH LED ILLUMINATION Cominox autoclaves TKD Handpieces WWW.PROFI-DENTAL.CO.UK RRP £4,550 6l autoclave with fast 10-min B-type cycle, perfect for implantology, printer SterilClave 6 B £3,820 RRP £3,150 great value 18l autoclave for everyday sterilisation, integrated printer SterilClave 18 S £2,640 RRP £5,600 large 24l, B-type autoclave for busy practices, integrated printer SterilClave 24 B £4,690 £1,199 3x TKD THERA®L 40SE illumination 25,000 lux, titanium finish, ceramic bearings, triple spray, non-return valve, compatible with Kavo® Multiflex®, 2 year guarantee 1x TKD GYROFLEX® LED RRP £2,210 Simple and reliable unit with generous specification. £7,990 SPECIAL OFFER - SPRING 2010 DENTAL CHAIRS AUTOCLAVES SUCTION PUMPS X-RAY UNITS HANDPIECES WASHER DISINFECTORS COMPRESSORS SURGERYPLANNING 07981075157 08450044388 08719442257 ‘The UK has one of the oldest and least energy- efficient building stocks in Europe’ Go green for your future Decreasing your practice’s CO2 output would be a wise, pre-emptive move to protect your prac- tice’s future selling power. Andy Acton explains About the author Andy Acton is di- rector of Frank Tay- lor & Associates, independent valu- ers and consultants to the dental pro- fession. Andy has helped a number of dental specialist banks develop their services to the dental profession, in- cluding NatWest and Bank of Ireland. For more information, call 08456 123434, email team@ft-associates.com or visit www.ft-associates.com. Time to check the green credentials of your practice