DETR climbs down on wall U-value improvements

The Government has backed down on plans to improve wall U-values to 0.30 W/m2K in the impending update to the Building Regulations.

In a move designed to allay the anger of wall and blockwork suppliers, the DETR has relaxed the target to 0.35 W/m2K.

Strong opposition by the blockwork lobby has persuaded the DETR that the measure would "cause an undue burden [on their businesses] in circumstances where European standards for...thermal insulation performance have yet to settle".

In a face-saving move, the DETR has said it will implement the U-value improvement in one stage rather than the original two stage-process. This will mean the new U-value coming into force one year earlier, in 2002.

However, in practice this merely means that the planned improvement to 0.30 W/m2K scheduled for 2003 has been shelved. As it stands now, the U-value will leap from 0.35 W/m2K in 2002 to 0.25 W/m2K in 2008.

The DETR says it is "working towards" publishing the proposed draft Approved Document L, with a view to amending the Building Regulations in August this year.

The DETR has also updated the regulations on fluorescent lighting ballasts. The regulations aim to remove the least efficient ballasts from the market.

The energy efficiency requirements will come into force in two stages: May 2002 and November 2005.

Tables showing the staged improvements for the various categories of ballasts can be down loaded from www.environment .detr.gov.uk/consult/ballasts/03.htm

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott formally launched the Carbon Trust in March.

"The Carbon Trust will help business' save energy and support low carbon technologies" said Prescott. The Trust hopes to make £200 million available over the next two years to help businesses invest in sustainable technologies.