After much anticipation, the new Part L Building Regulations were launched late last month. The approved documents set out the guidelines for conservation of fuel and power in new buildings and for a long time the launch has been seen as a key step in the government's pursuit of its carbon neutral target for all new English homes by 2016. Some have been disappointed that the new documents do not go far enough with regard to energy efficiency in houses, particularly after it was announced earlier in the year that the government's initial target of achieving an 8% reduction in domestic carbon emission standards was to be reduced to 6% (aggregate). The new guidance also sees a 9% uplift in non-residential buildings, a significant shortfall from the 20% improvement initially proposed during the earlier consultation period.
展开▼
