The changes recently announced to the energy conservation requirements of the Building Regulations have been substantially and deliberately weakened since they were officially consulted upon in 2004.

What was quietly announced, without benefit of press conference or public fanfare, included a series of last-minute changes that substantially weakened the energy-saving potential to an average 18%. Here are just three examples.

First, when a building extension was agreed, it was supposed to give rise to consequential work on the original building in order to minimise its overall carbon footprint. This requirement is now limited to larger commercial buildings over 1000 m2. Second, all conservatories were supposed to be built with high-efficiency glass – now this covers only those over 30 m2, rendering it irrelevant to most new conservatories. And there have been subtle changes to thermal bridging requirements, which officially reduce the current standards in operation.

Tony Blair promised that these new Regulations would provide a step change in energy efficiency, bringing our homes up to other Northern European standards. Instead, we have just a shuffle forwards, leaving our building stock still incredibly energy wasteful.

Andrew Warren, director, Association for the Conservation of Energy

Source

Building Sustainable Design