Inform Built Environment


Plans to install solar panels on the roof of Clarence House have been sub- mitted to Westminster City Council. The London home of the Prince of Wales could be fitted with photovoltaic panels if the idea is approved by councillors and planners at the central London authority. Under the scheme, 32 solar panels would be fitted to south east facing


A ROYAL APPROACH


roof of the building. According to the application the panels could create about 4,000 kilowatts hours of power. Details of the scheme were submitted to the council last month and the Prince hopes the scheme will encourage others to install renewable technology. An environmental impact of the scheme revealed: “The installation of solar panels on the roof of Clarence House will be the latest in a line of renewable technology projects undertaken by the household of HRH the Prince of Wales.”


NEXT MONTH Look out for a special supplement, as Sustainable Business delves into the world of microgeneration, examining the technologies, strategies and fund- ing options to businesses looking to generate their own energy.


Worst housing in decline, says EST


Fewer F- and G- rated homes now than in 2006


The numbers of the most energy inefficient homes – those that rate an F or G on an energy perform- ance certificate (EPC) – is decreas- ing, according to a new study by the Energy Saving Trust.


In 2008 – the most recent year for which data is available – 17% of English homes were in the F and G bands. In 2006, 22% were in those bands.


The study found that the worst G-rated homes can emit over 22


tonnes of CO2 a year and each home could save 14 tonnes of CO2 a year by bringing it to an E rating. By comparison, the average UK


home emits just five tonnes of CO2. The study also looked at what measures are required to bring homes out of the F and G banding, and finds three main types of ener-


gy inefficient homes: ■


■


those lacking basic insulation ■ those lacking a modern boiler


old homes needing major improvements


The EST found that the third group, deemed to be ‘very energy inefficient homes’, are twice as common in the private rented sec- tor as in the rest of the UK’s stock.


Homes can be made more energy efficient for less than 2% of their value


Based on an analysis using home condition data from 2005, 37% of homes fell in the first banding and could be improved for less than £1,000. And 47% fell in the second group, needing a modern boiler to reach the E rating.


Fifteen percent (33% in the pri- vate rented sector) fell into the high cost category needing more sub- stantial and costly improvements. “On the whole our study is good news,” said David Weatherall, the EST’s housing strategy manager. “Most F- and G-rated homes can be improved very cost effectively, for less than £3,000. That’s less than 2% of the sale price of the average


UK home. And with the abolition of Home Information Packs, and the new government committed to the green agenda, EPCs are going to enjoy a higher profile.” A previous EST survey suggest- ed 70% of people would consider re-negotiating the price of a prop- erty if they discovered it was ineffi- cient. “It’s important we tackle these homes for health reasons. Very few people realise that our existing environmental health regu- lations suggest that nearly all F- and G-banded homes pose a risk to vul- nerable people because they can get too cold and cost too much to heat,” added Weatherall.


KEEP AN EYE ON DEFRA Anyone interested can now view in real-time the energy consumption at Defra’s London headquarters. An online tool captures and displays real-time energy infor- mation with updates every five seconds providing an overview of the energy consumption, cost and carbon dioxide emis- sions. The performance data will help to raise awareness amongst staff, providing an incentive to cut energy use. The energy use monitor can be found at defra.gov.uk/corpo- rate/environment.


BRIEFS LEGAL & GENERAL HAS LAUNCHED THE OFFICE OCCUPIERS’ GUIDE TO SUSTAINABLE PROPERTYDESIGNED TO HELP ITS OFFICE TENANTS BE GREEN Sustainable Business | August/September 2010 | 7


MAJOR INVESTMENT Whitbread, the UK’s largest hotel and restaurant group, will spend £7M on a major sustain- ability programme to boost the environmental perform- ance of its hotels, restaurants and coffee shops.


The move forms part of the


firm’s Good Together sustain- ability strategy and will help the business deliver its target of cutting energy use by 26% and water use by 20% by 2020. As part of the programme, 20,000 low-flow showerheads will be installed at Premier Inn hotels – saving enough water to fill 88 Olympic swimming pools a year by 2012.


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