News
Consequential improvements ‘could have saved millions’
n
Introducing ‘consequential improvements’ to Part L
2010 of the Building Regulations could have resulted in £705m of savings, according to a campaign group. Consequential improvements,
which would have seen homeowners forced to make energy efficient improvements to their homes when carrying out large renovations, was expected to be consulted on in June last year, but did not appear in the consultation document. The Labour government suggested it did not want to burden households with these extra costs in an economic recession. The Association for the
Conservation of Energy (ACE), which represents building services companies, says information it has received under a Freedom of Information request shows that introducing consequential improvements into existing domestic buildings in
‘The scandal behind this perversity has finally come to light over a year on, but only thanks to the refusal by the Freedom of Information Commissioner to put up with a litany of obfuscation.’ A government spokesman
Increasing energy efficiency ‘should be compulsory in major home renovations’
2010 would have resulted in: • £201m in savings to households (energy savings minus the costs of renovation works);
• £142m in reduced carbon emissions; and
• £363m from avoiding investment in renewables. The ACE says the financial
savings and carbon benefits of enforcing consequential
improvements were removed from the economic impact assessment that was released with the June 2009 consultation. Consequential improvements
were seen as giving the greatest proportional saving to each household, with energy savings 2.3 times greater than any costs, according to the ACE. Andrew Warren, its director, said:
refused to be drawn on the matter, but did say that the communities and energy departments are now working together to develop the Green Deal which will allow householders to invest in home energy efficiency improvements at no upfront cost. The money spent carrying out the works will be recouped through savings on energy bills. The spokesman added: ‘The
Green Deal will be consumer-led, with householders choosing the right solutions for them, based on advice on the available options. It is in this context that the case for additional measures, like consequential improvements, will be considered.’
www.ukace.org
Building regs may be reviewed every two years
Part L of the Building Regulations could be reviewed every two years under proposals set out by the UK government. Building Regulations Minister
Andrew Stunell is looking into the move, which may affect the next round of revisions expected in 2013, bringing them forward by a year to 2012. The announcement was
made at an evening reception for the Energy Efficiency Partnership for Homes. Stunell has also written to industry asking for its opinion on a wide range of issues affecting all Building Regulations. CIBSE and BSRIA, the research
body, were among the recipients, who were asked to air their views on how the regulations can be
‘improved, added to or slimmed down, and suggestions as to how we can deliver even better levels of compliance in the future’. The closing date for input was
the end of August. n Fears that the 2010 changes could face a six-month delay have now been allayed after the government confirmed that the
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changes to Parts F, J and L of the Building Regulations are scheduled to come into operation on 1 October as previously announced. The regulations had to pass through the Reducing Regulation Cabinet sub-Committee, which was tasked with reviewing all legislation introduced from 1 January 2010. It has now approved the changes.
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