Will Bown, Managing Director of SuperFOIL, responds to the government’s proposed Future Homes Standard…
“For those of us hoping the Future Homes Standard would reverse the government’s recent trend of backtracking on sustainability, this week’s announcement was bitterly disappointing.
On 13th December, ministers unveiled their proposals for the much-anticipated legislation. It made for depressing reading.
With no increase in either the required U-Values or building fabric standards for new homes, the government has clearly abandoned ‘fabric first’.
Rather than focusing on increasing energy efficiency, it’s hoping that a combination of heat pumps, greener electricity and solar panels will yield the carbon reductions they desire.
In other words – homes will continue to be leaky and inefficient, but the energy we’re wasting will at least be green.
We needed bold, radical measures to help make the country’s housing stock fit for a net zero future – instead, the new minimum requirements are actually lower than many houses are made to already.
With one eye on next year’s election, the government has clearly kicked the can down the road. If the country is going to meet its net zero obligations, I strongly suspect the Future Homes Standard will be revisited before long.”
Sameer Sawant, Director of Velstone, discusses the promising outlook for the solid surface industry in 2025…
Posted in Articles, Bathrooms, Bedrooms & Washrooms, Building Industry News, Building Products & Structures, Interior Design & Construction, Interiors, Kitchens, Restoration & Refurbishment, Retrofit & RenovationIf you have noisy neighbours, or if you are particularly sensitive to noise generally, you may want to consider improving your home’s soundproofing – Hush Acoustics…
Posted in Acoustics, Noise & Vibration Control, Articles, Building Industry News, Building Products & Structures, Building Services, Building Systems, Ceilings, Facility Management & Building Services, Floors, Health & Safety, Insulation, Restoration & Refurbishment, Retrofit & Renovation, Timber Buildings and Timber Products, WallsGood acoustic conditions within school classrooms are significantly important for maximising inclusivity in education, particularly for children with social, emotional, and mental health needs (SEMH), as Hush Acoustics explains here…
Posted in Acoustics, Noise & Vibration Control, Articles, Building Industry News, Building Products & Structures, Building Services, Building Systems, Case Studies, Ceilings, Facility Management & Building Services, Floors, Health & Safety, Posts, Restoration & Refurbishment, Retrofit & Renovation, Roofs, Timber Buildings and Timber Products, WallsBritish Land’s flagship headquarters, York House, is benefitting from new Mitsubishi Electric heat pump technology that has fully replaced the use of gas.
Posted in Air Conditioning, Articles, Building Industry News, Building Products & Structures, Building Services, Case Studies, Facility Management & Building Services, Heating Systems, Controls and Management, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning - HVAC, Pipes, Pipes & Fittings, Plumbing, Posts, Restoration & Refurbishment, Retrofit & Renovation, Sustainability & Energy Efficiency