Government dithering threatens directive 'fiasco': The EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive could be the next 'fridge mountain'. Ewen Rose reports some angry exchanges at the H&V News Conference

摘要

The Government stands accused of paving the way for "enforcement anarchy" as it hesitates over the detail of next year's EU Energy Performance Directive. Low energy prices and a crippling lack of manpower are also threatening to leave the Directive stuck at the starting gate, according to a number of expert analysts who stirred up furious debate at the recent H&V News conference on the issue. Professor David Strong, managing director of BRE Environment and chairman of the Directive Implementation Advisory Croup (DIAG), told the conference that he was "bemused, concerned and perplexed" by Government dithering on the issue. "It is beyond belief, a ministerial statement of intent was due before Easter, but professional institutions and key trade associations still don't know what the Government is planning to introduce. They have known about the requirement to implement EPBD for three years, it hasn't suddenly been sprung on them." Professor Strong said the DIAG had been created in an attempt to "avoid the fiascos we had in the past with things like the ozone depletion regulations and the fridge mountain" by ensuring detailed provisions were in place before the legislation came into force.