We must conserve our energy and improve the existing building stock to reasonable, if not high levels, as well as raising construction standards

However, the introduction of the Code for Sustainable Homes and its assessment methods is to avoid the problem and place greater emphasis on the assessment than the end product.

I speak as an assessor for the code who has become disillusioned with the system.

It is not addressing the real problem of global warming. In fact, it has become a problem in itself! The systems must be abandoned and the Building

Regulations improved to the required, or desired, levels as soon as possible. It makes no sense to have six levels of “quality” to save the planet. We cannot ignore the 90% of buildings that exist and are poorly insulated, while striving to achieve one house that is “zero carbon”. It is a nonsense.

We need direct action to ensure that the speculative developers raise their game, in every sense, and regulation is the only way that they understand. If the regulations are inadequate, it is of no value to invent another system to analyse buildings. We need direct action to improve all buildings, and this could be undertaken every time alterations are made, with grants for the poor and elderly, and with legislation for building owners.

Graham Wright

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