Global code for performance of commercial buildings

27 February 2008

IPD has launched the IPD Environment Code, a new environmental measurement standard that provides a global framework for measuring the environmental performance of corporate buildings. It provides a useful tool to monitor and compare the environmental performance of buildings in terms of energy and water consumption and waste produced.

The Code is supported by leading firms – including CB Richard Ellis, Bureau Veritas, Barclays and Atisreal - facilitates more informed decisions about which buildings to occupy and how to manage the operations that take place within them.

Ian Fielder, CEO, BIFM welcomed the Code: “The BIFM welcomes the launch of the IPD Environment Code. It is a comprehensive and well thought-out approach to a complex subject. Facilities managers…stand ready to work with other property professionals to effect real change in the way buildings are designed, occupied and managed.”

The IPD Environment Code provides a good practice template for the collection, analysis and reporting of environmental performance information, as itrelates to corporate buildings. It is applicable to a broad range of property types from retail shops and offices to hospitals, universities, hotels and airports. Through use of common terminologies, the Code enables property executives to generate consistent and comparable performance information about their buildings anywhere in the world to support decision making and communication.

Energy, water and waste form the focus for data collection and reporting using the Environment Code. In addition, a range of supporting (often less 'measurable') information about a building's environmental impacts can be collected.

Part 2 of the Code sets a series of qualititative measures – in survey form - designed to complement the core data items set out in Part 1. If carried out at regular intervals, the Code’s Environmental 'Health-Check' can be used to highlight a range of important risks, liabilities and performance drivers that might otherwise go uncovered.

The Code enables a rating (out of 100) of the buildings’ environmental 'health'. By using the standardised IPD format, building scores can be compared across an estate - as well as against external 'peer group' organisations. With code compliant data assembled, a range of KPIs can be developed to help users monitor and manage their buildings' environmental impacts.

Strategic Indicators can be achieved for example, for Board reporting or external
Communications. They are split into two categories: 'Total Budget' Indicators - representing the total energy,carbon, water and waste produced by the organisation
through its buildings; and b. 'Annual Change' Indicators - a key focus for most
organisations will be to reduce impacts year on year.

By putting Strategic Indicators into the context of specific building operations, users of the Code may also produce a set of management focused 'tactical' indicators. A key purpose of these indicators is to control the Strategic Indicators and to drive operational performance improvements. They also permit comparison against internal and external benchmarks.
The IPD Environmental Code can be downloaded free from www.ipd.com/environmentcode .