The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has launched a new version of the Ska Rating, which allows owners and occupiers 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.
After a period of industry consultation and thanks to ongoing feedback from users, RICS has created the new occupancy stage assessment to complement the existing design and handover stage assessments.
RICS said: '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.'
Projects being completed according to the freely available Ska Rating methodology will now be asked to conduct a review of the Good Practice Measures achieved during the fit out, including measuring the energy and water consumption levels as well as the way in which the office is managing its waste and recycling activities.
The changes introduced will help owners and occupiers better understand the business case for sustainable good practice, allow them to demonstrate the cost savings that can be achieved by targeting a more environmentally-friendly fit out and may even allow their original Ska Rating to be upgraded (for example, from Silver to Gold).
www.rics.org