Current standards of energy efficiency for both homes and non domestic buildings will be improved by 25% if proposals put forward by Housing Minister John Healey last week are approved. Healey has proposed changes to Part L of Building Regulations which will introduce a 25% improvement on current standards from October 2010. A consultation launched at last week’s RTPI planning conference on changes to the building regs would require new buildings to have much better insulation and lower-energy lighting and heating.

The 25% improvement in domestic performance was widely expected as it brings all new construction into line with level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, already required for public sector housing, however the plan to include non-domestic buildings in the improvements will come as a surprise to the industry.

Healey said such a move could save families £100 a year on their heating and electricity bills.

He said: “We must build our homes to a better, greener standard. We are leading the way globally, with our ambitions for zero-carbon homes and buildings. Today I have announced the next step towards zero carbon - a 25% improvement on current standards for new homes or buildings from 2010.”

Robert Upton, secretary-general of the RTPI, said: “To adopt this 25% improvement in 2010 will be tough but this is a bold decision which we welcome and fully support. If we are to achieve our targeted reduction of carbon emissions of 20% by 2020 as the minister indicated, we have to act now… It’s time for planners, architects and developers to step up to the mark and respond to this challenge.”

Credits:: Roof of newbuild being insulated with soy based foam