SERVICES
ESG consultancy
Harness ESG solutions for sustainable growth.
We’ll help you achieve a strong ESG strategy to drive higher property value, attract quality tenants and investors, and reduce operating costs.
Our expert Environmental, Social and Governance consultants support you in building a resilient portfolio by managing risk, ensuring regulatory compliance and creating long-term value through tailored, actionable solutions.
Our ESG consulting services
Net zero and carbon management
Our net zero experts help you assess your carbon footprint, implement targeted reductions and achieve measurable progress across the property lifecycle.
- Conduct operational energy reviews and benchmark energy use to identify inefficiencies and uncover potential savings.
- Perform whole life and embodied carbon assessments to reveal hidden emissions across construction, fit-outs and refurbishments.
- Develop targets to set clear, actionable objectives for reducing carbon emissions.
- Provide transparent reporting to help you track progress and demonstrate results.
- Create customised ESG strategies for single assets or entire portfolios, ensuring alignment with your goals and long-term sustainability.
Green certification and compliance
Our team simplifies the certification process for BREEAM, NABERS and WELL, offering advice on cost-effective strategies to achieve higher green ratings.
- Assess your building’s performance against key criteria, from energy and water efficiency to indoor environmental quality and health standards.
- Develop practical solutions to improve certification scores, attract tenants and boost your asset’s appeal.
Carbon risk and resilience
- Help future-proof your assets by addressing vulnerabilities and integrating ESG considerations into your decision making.
- Evaluate your assets’ climate risks and performance, and advise on energy transition planning to help you adapt to rising energy costs.
- Social value services identifying opportunities for community engagement to deliver positive, measurable social and economic outcomes.
- Support integrating social value considerations into your broader ESG framework for a balanced approach.
Green finance advisory
Sustainable finance can offer a significant competitive advantage. Our green finance services help you
- Secure favourable lending terms tied to ESG performance
- Reduce long-term costs and enhance asset value
- Achieve minimum energy efficiency standards and green certification scores
- Negotiate terms and monitor progress
- Ensure ongoing compliance and performance tracking
Energy efficiency compliance
We help you navigate regulations, like the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES), while optimising your property’s performance.
- Implement energy-saving measures
- Upgrade EPC ratings
- Ensure compliance with schemes like ESOS (Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme)
- Prepare for future legislation
MEES Update: 𝗘𝗣𝗖 𝗕 𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗯𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟯𝟭
After a prolonged period of uncertainty, the government has now set a clearer direction for MEES regulation, confirming a move towards an EPC B target for larger commercial assets by 2031. For landlords, this is not simply a compliance milestone; it is a fundamental asset management and value consideration.
Buildings over 1,000 sqm will fall within scope, increasing exposure to:
- Stranded asset risk
- Reduced letting potential
- Potential value erosion where performance falls short
At the same time, EPC ratings are playing an increasingly central role in shaping CapEx strategies, lease negotiations, investment decisions and access to finance. Importantly, many existing EPCs may no longer align with current methodologies, creating further uncertainty around true asset performance.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗯𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗼𝘄?
𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝘁
Segment portfolios by size to identify which assets will fall within the scope of the 2031 EPC B requirement.
𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄
Interrogate existing EPCs, particularly older certificates, to understand current risk and likely re-rating outcomes.
𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻
Build deliverable, cost-effective improvement pathways. Align works with lease events and lifecycle upgrades, and explore exemptions where appropriate.
The window to act is open, but narrowing. Early, strategic intervention will be key to protecting value and maintaining competitiveness.
ESOS Phase 4
ESOS is a mandatory government reporting scheme for large companies in the UK. The aim is to boost the energy efficiency of businesses across their buildings, transport and processes. Any qualifying business that meets certain thresholds must audit a proportion of their energy usage to help find cost-effective ways to cut consumption.
The scheme runs in four-year phases, and we're currently in phase 4 with a deadline of 5 December 2027. With the countdown to compliance set, we're here to help your organisation prepare.
ESOS Phase 4 places greater emphasis on actionable outcomes, moving beyond assessment and requiring clear, evidence-based plans for reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions. From detailed action plans and annual progress reporting to enhanced audit requirements, organisations must demonstrate how insights are being translated into measurable change.
This is more than a compliance exercise. It is an opportunity to:
- Improve operational efficiency
- Reduce energy costs
- Strengthen sustainability credentials
- Support long-term decarbonisation strategies
Social value is created when buildings, places, and infrastructure support environmental, economic, and social wellbeing.
Track record
70 Chancery Lane, London
Size of property: 77,812 sq ft
Objectives
- Support the sale of a landmark London office building by clearly demonstrating its sustainability credentials and long-term resilience.
- Provide prospective purchasers with an independent assessment of environmental performance, regulatory compliance and climate risk.
Showcase the benefits of the recent refurbishment and position the asset as a high-quality, future-ready investment.
Actions
- Knight Frank undertook a comprehensive ESG and sustainability review of the building, assessing its environmental performance, climate resilience and alignment with leading industry standards.
- As WSP’s headquarters, the building represents a best-in-class sustainable office environment, combining high-quality workspace with market-leading environmental performance.
The assessment included:
- EU Taxonomy alignment review
- Climate risk and resilience assessment
- Long-term transition risk analysis using CRREM pathways
- EPC and regulatory compliance review • Evaluation of building services, energy infrastructure and operational performance
- Identification of future sustainability and asset management opportunities
The review highlighted several key sustainability features introduced through the recent refurbishment, including:
- Fully electric building with no gas connection
- Air source heat pumps and low-carbon heating and cooling systems
- Heat recovery ventilation • LED lighting with occupancy and daylight sensors
- Advanced Building Management System (BMS) to optimise energy efficiency
Outcome
- Confirmed alignment with key EU Taxonomy requirements for the acquisition and ownership of real estate.
- Achieved an EPC A rating, demonstrating strong environmental performance and compliance with investor sustainability expectations.
- Verified that no material climate risks were identified that would significantly impact the building’s long-term performance or value.
- Demonstrated strong alignment with recognised decarbonisation pathways, with CRREM stranding projected beyond 2045.
- Created a compelling ESG narrative for prospective purchasers, evidencing the building’s sustainability credentials, future-proofed design and long-term investment resilience.
1 Savile Row, Mayfair, London, W1
Size of property: 13,887 sq ft
Objectives
- Support acquisition due diligence for a landmark off-market purchase.
- Assess climate-related and sustainability risks associated with the asset.
- Understand future regulatory exposure, including EPC and MEES requirements.
- Evaluate decarbonisation opportunities and long-term asset resilience.
- Identify ESG-led value creation opportunities to support future leasing and asset management strategies.
Actions
Knight Frank's ESG team completed a comprehensive ESG due diligence assessment including:
- Physical climate risk modelling using multiple future climate scenarios. • EPC and MEES compliance review.
- Utility, metering and energy performance analysis.
- CRREM decarbonisation pathway modelling and stranded asset risk assessment.
- BREEAM In-Use pre-assessment and certification strategy.
- Capital expenditure planning and carbon reduction roadmap.
- Recommendations covering operational optimisation, metering enhancements, tenant engagement and future building upgrades.
Outcome
- Identified that the building had already improved from an EPC C to a potential EPC B, reducing future compliance risk.
- Confirmed overall moderate climate risk exposure, with rainfall flooding representing the principal long-term hazard.
- Demonstrated an all-electric operational profile with low landlord energy consumption and strong underlying sustainability credentials.
- Established a pathway to achieve BREEAM In-Use "Excellent" from an estimated baseline of "Very Good".
- Provided a clear decarbonisation strategy, keeping the asset aligned with net zero pathways into the 2040s.
- Following the acquisition, Knight Frank secured a two-year ESG reporting and Deepki software instruction across four properties, with a planned expansion to additional assets within the portfolio.
Latest energy and sustainability insights
Stay ahead of global property trends with research and articles from industry experts around the world.
Energy & Sustainability
What will it take to get to B by 2031?
With the minimum of EPC B by 2031 restated as intention for non-domestic private rented buildings of 1,000 sqm or more we look at where we currently are and why.
02 July 2026
Energy & Sustainability
Business Rates and EPCs: A new area of value adjustment?
From April 2026, EPC ratings may directly impact rateable values for commercial property, creating potential financial consequences for occupier and landlords of F- and G-rated assets.
02 July 2026
Energy & Sustainability
Finally, an update on MEES for non-domestic real estate in the UK
02 July 2026
Energy & Sustainability
Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS): Phase 4
As we enter phase 4 of the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS), businesses must adapt to new requirements that include detailed action plans and a stronger emphasis on energy efficiency.
11 June 2026
Energy & Sustainability
Business Rates and EPCs: A new area of value adjustment?
From April 2026, EPC ratings may directly impact rateable values for commercial property, creating potential financial consequences for occupier and landlords of F- and G-rated assets.
02 July 2026
Energy & Sustainability
Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS): Phase 4
As we enter phase 4 of the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS), businesses must adapt to new requirements that include detailed action plans and a stronger emphasis on energy efficiency.
11 June 2026
