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COMMENT


COMMENT


How do we close the energy performance gap?


With a UK housing stock that doesn’t fare well in comparison to other European countries on energy efficiency, what is the solution to the UK’s thermal failings? Simon Blackham from Recticel Insulation explains how the industry is playing catch up


D


omestic energy use, which is partly driven by poorly insulated homes, remains a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Properties not living up to design expectations is a factor in UK homes stock falling short in terms of energy standards. The resulting Performance Gap could provide a challenge to the Government’s 2050 net zero pledge, particularly as a 2021 National Housing Federation report revealed poor insulation was a contributor to England’s homes producing more carbon emissions each year than was emitted by all cars in the country.


A failure to maintain consistent best building practices at crucial stages of the construction process remains an industry concern. The


‘swapping out’ of specified products mid-construction, for example, not only increases the risk of a costly retrofit requirement to bring a property in line with regulation energy standards, it could also compromise a building’s structural integrity and the occupants’ safety. A poorly conceived building envelope is the main cause of defects such as condensation and mould formation, which poses a health risk to elderly and child occupants with weaker lungs and vulnerable immune systems.


Platforms such as Building Information Modelling (BIM) may help eradicate the negative impact of product substitution. The technology adds a much-needed layer of transparency to the build process and chimes with Dame Judith Hackitt’s call for a ‘Golden


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ADF OCTOBER 2023


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