3 Improving the energy efficiency
of new homes
20. The Government aims to build 3 million new
homes within the next 15 years.[48]
The Department for Communities and Local Government explained
that the energy efficiency standards for new homes have increased
substantially. The 2006 Building Regulation requirements for energy
efficiency were about 45% higher than they were in 1995.[49]
The Department envisages that future Regulations, planned for
2010, 2013 and 2016, will implement progressively stricter standards
on the energy performance of new homes. By 2020, revisions to
the Building Regulations from 2002 onwards are expected to achieve
half the energy savings of the UK household sector.[50]
21. The success of the Building Regulations depends
on the construction industry complying with them by building homes
to the required standards, understanding the impact of construction
techniques on energy efficiency, and supplying and installing
materials to the standards required.[51]
The Department for Communities and Local Government had a programme
of activity to inform and train industry trainers and Building
Control Officers of the changes in the 2006 Building Regulations.
The Department expected to develop a similar plan for dissemination
of the 2010 changes to the Regulations.[52]
22. The construction industry has voiced concerns
over its ability to meet progressively stricter standards over
the timetable proposed.[53]
The Department considered there was some anecdotal evidence of
poor practice in complying with the Building Regulations.[54]
The Department is involving representatives from industry in the
development and tightening of Building Regulations; for example,
by participating in a taskforce to oversee the delivery of the
standards envisaged for the 2016 Regulations.[55]
23. A recent report on the 2002 Regulations found
that Local Authority Building Control Officers are not prioritising
energy efficiency when they check that construction work complies
with Building Regulations.[56]
Unless inspectors visit building sites while builders are installing
energy efficiency measures they find it difficult to confirm that
builders have complied with the relevant regulations.[57]
The Department for Communities and Local Government has published
proposals that would require builders to submit fuller plans to
the inspectors and for on-site inspections to take place at several
times during the course of the building.[58]
The Department trained Building Control Officers in Part L of
the Regulations following the 2006 changes but recognised that
more needed to be done to effect a cultural change so that energy
efficiency is taken seriously.[59]
The Department has also recently consulted on steps to increase
Building Control Officers' enforcement powers, such as allowing
them to issue 'stop notices' to cease building work until significant
risks are dealt with, and to levy a monetary penalty without the
need to go to court.[60]
24. In addition to inspection it is important
to monitor the energy efficiency of houses once they have been
built. For example, thermal imaging cameras can be used to see
how much heat is leaking due to, for example, badly installed
insulation or poor construction technique. The Department for
Communities and Local Government recognised the importance of
checking houses on a sample basis. The Department was not able
to confirm compliance with the 2006 regulations. The Department
as yet is only sampling 100 homes to check energy performance
and compliance with the 2006 Regulations.[61]
The Department expects to confirm the level of compliance with
the 2006 Building Regulations as part of its estimate of the impact
of the 2010 changes to the Regulations.[62]
48 Q 26 Back
49
Q 26 Back
50
Q 35, C&AG's Report, para 3.2, Figure 11 Back
51
Qq 35-42 Back
52
Qq 35-36 Back
53
C&AG's Report, para 3.4 Back
54
Q 54; C&AG's Report, para 3.4 Back
55
Q 42 Back
56
Qq 35-39, 53-58; C&AG's Report, para 3.5; Future Energy
Solutions, Compliance with Part L1 of the 2002 Building Regulations
(An investigation into the reasons for poor compliance), 2006 Back
57
Q 57 Back
58
Q 55 Back
59
Qq 36-38, 58 Back
60
Qq 37-38 Back
61
Qq 39-41, 58 Back
62
Q 42; Ev 15 Back
| 
