Is it in Your Interest to Follow the Building Regs?

With oil prices surpassing £50 per barrel and changes occurring in the earth's climate that may be related to rising greenhouse gas emissions, the search for ways to reduce our energy consumption once again has become more appealing.   The Minister for Environment, Heritage, and Local Government, in adopting what is collectively referred to as the Building Regulations 1997 to present , has established revised standards for new dwellings that may assist the UK in meeting both of those challenges and going beyond.

Taking effect on 1 July 2008, these regulations apply to the provision of new dwellings (including flats) where work commences on or after that date, with the exception of projects where a planning application has been made or notice is given in accordance with the provisions of Part 8 of the Planning and Development Regulations of 2001, and where "substantial work" (meaning that the structure of the external walls has been erected) has been completed by 30 June 2009.  Specifically, the changes that make up the bulk of modifications through the UK building regulations relate to the installation of gas and oil-fired boilers after 31 March 2008.

The goals are ambitious: Achieving at least a 40% reduction in energy use and related carbon dioxide emissions, although this latest version of revised building regulations states that an effective date for the achievement of these objectives is subject to "transitional arrangements".  Still, a 40% reduction goes beyond the requirements of the Kyoto Climate Change Conference Treaty signed in 1997, which established a 7% reduction target by 2010.  Following Prime Minister Tony Blair's announcement of a new national energy policy in 2003 that established target reductions of 20% by 2010, the UK building regulations are significant steps toward achieving that national goal.

One of the keys to meeting these targets is the actual designs of the dwellings, which are to be designed and constructed "such as to limit the amount of energy required for the operation of the dwelling and the amount of carbon dioxide emissions" resulting from heating the living space.  This requirement is to be met in several ways, including making use of renewable energy sources, limiting heat loss and maximizing heat gain, and use of higher efficiency heating units.  Starting on 1 April 2008, any oil or gas fired boiler installed in either a new dwelling or as a replacement in an existing structure must meet a minimum seasonal net efficiency of 86 percent.  

An additional provision of the Building Regulations provides that, beyond the initial energy savings of the installation, the reductions in energy use are to be maintained on an ongoing basis.  The Regulations state that one means of compliance is by "providing to the dwelling owner sufficient information about the dwelling , the fixed building services and their maintenance requirements so that the dwelling can be operated in such a manner as to use no more fuel and energy than is reasonable."

Recent polls indicate that more than two-thirds of the British public believes that if more cost-effective strategies to achieving the Kyoto Protocol exist, then Britain should pursue those methods.  Setting the example for other nations to follow by implementing the use of more energy efficient technologies could be the first step down the road of doing what we know to be right.  Making more efficient use of the fossil fuels available to us will lessen our dependence on foreign sources, reduce the tonnage of greenhouse gasses being released into the atmosphere, and demonstrate to the world the sort of leadership necessary if we are to preserve the earth for future generations.  And it all starts with the humble domestic building regs .