[NukeNet] Scotland: New houses breaching energy laws

[The Roy Process]

Sunday Heraldhttp://www.sundayherald.com/58741
      Sunday Herald - 29 October 2006 
      New houses breaching energy laws 
      By Rob Edwards 


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      As many as half of all new houses built in Scotland could breach energy-saving rules, blowing a gaping hole in government attempts to combat climate chaos. 
      An investigation by the Sunday Herald has uncovered evidence that insulation and draught-proofing in new homes is often so poor that they fail to comply with building regulations. As a result they cause more of the pollution that is warming the globe. 

      The revelation has triggered calls for the Scottish communities minister, Malcolm Chisholm, to crack down on the "cowboy builders" blamed for breaking the rules. Energy campaigners want better checks on the insulation in new houses. 

      Ministers in Edinburgh and London face growing criticism for failing to do enough to tackle climate change. A report due out tomorrow by the World Bank's former chief economist, Nicholas Stern, is expected to warn that, if unchecked, it could trigger a global economic catastrophe. 

      According to experts from local authorities and building research groups, breaches of the rules for insulation in new houses were "widespread". Insulation in lofts, walls and around fittings was missing and improperly installed, they said. 

      "It's down to shoddy workman ship," said Janice Lyon, Aberdeen City Council's home energy co-ordinator. 

      Surveys uncovered manifold examples of poor insulation in Kingswell, an estate built on the outskirts of Aberdeen in the late 1990s. "They were not up to the building standards of the time," Lyon stated. But the problem was not limited to Aberdeen, she argued. "We know this happens with 40% to 50% of new build in Scotland," she said. 




      Thermal imaging surveys conducted by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) in East Kilbride have shown that up to 30% more heat escapes from new houses than expected. Inspections have uncovered instances where the wrong insulating materials have been installed. 

      In a study this year, the BRE's Sean Doran pointed out that the insulation in floors and walls of new homes was not usually examined properly by building inspectors. Inspectors were "unsure of the levels of standards that should be demanded", he said. 

      Further evidence comes from glass manufacturer Pilkington, which said that less than half of replacement windows in Scotland use the energy- saving glass required by regulations, compared with 90% in England and Wales. 

      The widespread breaches of building insulation rules were a "scandal", said Chas Booth, of the Association for the Conservation of Energy in Scotland. "Setting tighter building standards for energy efficiency is pointless unless they are enforced," he said. 

      "This new evidence shows that, far from the Executive's claimed 25% reduction in carbon emissions under new building regulations, our buildings will continue to be a major cause of climate change unless action is taken." 

      Booth urged ministers to include compulsory insulation tests in its current review of building regulations and to increase training and resources for building inspectors. 

      Last week, SNP MSP Maureen Watt tabled a motion in parliament suggesting that insulation regulations were being widely breached. The Scottish Executive pointed out that its revised building standards did give "guidance" on the frequency of insulation tests. 

      "The proposed standards on energy efficiency will mean that in about five years, Scotland will have reduced carbon dioxide emissions from new buildings by 40%," said an Executive spokeswoman. 

      Evidence of widespread breaches of the rules was "anecdotal", said Michael Levack, of Scottish Building, which represents 700 building contractors. 

      "I don't think it reflects reality," he said. "The industry has raised standards significantly in the past 10 years." 



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      Copyright © 2006 smg sunday newspapers ltd. no.176088 
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