Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Chris Huhne, has warned the UK’s big six energy suppliers that they are at risk of missing Government home energy efficiency targets, and need to double their insulation rates. Almost 300,000 insulation measures, such as loft and cavity wall insulation, have been carried out in British homes over the past [...]
energy efficiency
Green Deal progresses with consumer protection code
Climate Change Minister, Greg Barker, has set out plans aimed at ensuring the Government’s “Green Deal” won’t result in consumers being ripped off. Under the Deal, thousands of UK homes (both owner occupied and let) should become warmer and cheaper to run, as from 2012, people will be able to access up to £10,000 upfront [...]
Responsible landlords penalised over Green Deal
Recent proposals announced by the Energy Secretary could mean responsible private rental landlords are penalised, should tenants refuse to participate in “Green Deal” energy efficiency work. So says the Residential Landlords’ Association (RLA), which points out that 40% of properties in the UK’s private rental sector were built before 1919, making energy efficiency a major [...]
Older buildings misunderstood on energy performance
New research from the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) suggests that the standard U-value calculations used to rate the energy efficiency of buildings underestimates the thermal performance of traditional walls.
It would appear that heat loss through ancient materials can be up to three times lower than expected, and the study found [...]
Landlords should focus on energy efficiency agenda
Landlords should be considering measures to improve the energy efficiency of their properties now, the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) recommends.
The Government’s Green Deal (which should be up and running in Autumn 2012) will provide up-front financing to make rental properties more energy efficient, where tenants request improvements.
However, by 2015, landlords who don’t comply [...]
