Today, more than ever, the issue of the environment is at the forefront of many people’s minds. Before you start there are 4 things to consider; the UK has the oldest housing stock in Europe, the draughtiest, the worst insulated and has the greatest reliance on gas. In general we are about 10 years behind Europe in terms of design, methodology and use of technology.
That is very daunting in itself and it means that we have considerable ground to make up before we can begin to make any noticeable advances. We are being urged by the government to carry out a range of major changes to both our houses and lifestyles, all of which I fully endorse. The environmental impact of domestic housing is huge and time is of the essence. All of the measures cover aspects of energy efficiency but which one do you choose? The range of costs is massive and the lack of details is baffling. My approach is to start at the bottom and work up.
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The Government’s approach to domestic housing is confused to say the least. For example, we are not told who will foot the huge bills associated with the banning of gas boilers, the true cost of electric heating and cooking and the costs and complexities of insulation. When we have to face the blizzard of options, it can become disheartening. The Americans have a wonderful word for what is needed to tackle the oncoming difficulties – weatherizing. This is a great catch-all for each and every one of the tasks that we need to do, however, these matters are not as straightforward as they seem. I will give some clarity on these matters and steer you through these troubled waters.
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