Panel discusion: Commercial and Office Buildings in the Climate Economy
Commercial and Office Buildings in the Climate Economy
– from commitment to return
14 September 2026, 9:30–11:30
European Commission Representation in the Czech Republic, Národní 10
Organiser: Šance pro budovy (Chance for Buildings)
Under the auspices of: the European Commission Representation in the Czech Republic
The revised EPBD directive (2024) sets binding deadlines for commercial and office buildings: MEPS for the worst-performing part of the existing stock by 2030, the ZEB standard for new buildings from 2028, and full decarbonisation by 2050. Energy-underperforming buildings today face the so-called brown discount: lower market value, worse access to financing, and the departure of foreign tenants with ESG mandates. The aim of the event is to put numbers to this economic logic and show why acting early is more advantageous than waiting.
Event programme
English language, no interpretation provided.
9:00 – 9:30 Registration → Reserve your seat
9:30 – 9:45 Welcome | European Commission, EC Representation and Chance for Buildings
9:45 – 9:55 Opening presentation | Stefan de Goeij
9:55 – 11:00 Panel discussion | 5 speakers + 35 min moderated discussion and Q&A
11:00 – 11:30 Closing, summary, networking
Welcome | 9:30 – 9:45 (15 minutes)
The event will be opened by a representative of the European Commission (speaker TBD), a representative of the European Commission Representation in the Czech Republic (speaker TBD), and Marta Gellová, Director of Chance for Buildings.
Opening presentation | 9:45 – 9:55 (10 minutes)
Stefan de Goeij, Chair of RICS CZ – panel moderator
The aim of the opening presentation is to frame the topic in economic terms and provide the panel with a basis for discussion. The rental premium of green buildings vs. the brown discount: data from European markets and its applicability to the Czech Republic.
Panel discussion + discussion | 9:55 – 11:00 (65 minutes)
- Nathalie Marková, Director of the Energy Efficiency and Savings Department – 6 min statement
- Status of EPBD IV transposition in the Czech Republic
- Response to the topic of the brown discount
- Simona Kalvoda, director, Czech Green Building Council (CZGBC) – 6 min statement
CZGBC is a key national partner for building ESG certification (BREEAM, LEED, DGNB). We recommend approaching the executive director or the chair of the CZGBC board directly.
- What BREEAM, LEED and DGNB certifications mean in practice: how significantly they affect the value and rental yield of an office building.
- How many certified office buildings currently stand in Prague and what is the trend – is market demand growing?
- How certification helps owners demonstrate EPBD compliance and attract foreign investors.
- A practical guide: what an owner must do to start the path to certification – step by step.
- Jon Hale, Group Board Director, Chapman Taylor – 6 min statement (case study: Palác Dunaj)
Chapman Taylor is an international architectural practice involved in the reconstruction of the historic Palác Dunaj in Prague. This case study links heritage protection with energy renovation – a strong example for both media and audience.
- The reconstruction of Palác Dunaj as an example of combining heritage protection with energy renovation.
- How EPBD and MEPS requirements are reconciled with heritage restrictions – a practical solution.
- What the Palác Dunaj project revealed about the economic logic of renovating a historic office building.
- Benefits for tenants, property value, and the building’s ESG profile after completion.
- Jakub Chmelík, Head of Valuation CZ – iO Partners – 6 min statement
- How the energy class and ESG rating specifically affect market value – data from valuations of the Prague market.
- The brown discount in numbers: by how many % the value of a building falls short of future MEPS.
- What foreign institutional investors (UK, DE, NL) require as a condition for entering the Czech market.
- Jan Zvěřina – Co-founder/Executive Director of Green0meter – 6 min statement
Green0meter provides ESG data and building ratings used by banks in their financing decisions – retained as a key voice linking the topic to the banking sector.
- How banks today assess a building’s energy performance in loan financing.
- What conditions an office building must meet to qualify for a green loan or ESG-linked financing.
- What owners who fail to meet MEPS risk: higher cost of capital, restricted refinancing, exit of foreign funds.
- How ready are Czech real estate funds; data gathering and other issues.
Closing, networking and coffee | 11:00 – 11:30