Part twenty-four

•        Major drain on energy resources.
  
  
•        Existing building stock far outweighs the amount of new build.
  
  
•        Refurbishment forms a major part of the construction market.
  
  
•        Central government departments alone spend 50% more per annum on large scale refurbishment projects (£1.35billion in 2005/6) than on new construction projects.
  
  
•        Making existing building envelopes more thermally efficient can greatly reduce the amount of energy needed to run both heating and air conditioning.
  
  
•        The potential and capacity for energy savings are reflected in the requirements of the Refurbishment Sections of the Building Regulations.
  
  
•        All the main types of refurbishment are covered:
  
  
•        Extensions;
  
•        Material change of use;
  
•        Material alterations;
  
•        Consequential improvements;
  
•        Provision or extension of a controlled service or fitting;
  
•        Replacement or renovation of a thermal element
  
  
•        With the exception of “the provision or extension of a controlled service or fitting” all refurbishment types require an improvement to the building fabric.
  
  
•        The building owner has to meet the fabric standards for the refurbishment works in accordance with the new Regulations, or else show that it is not economically or practically feasible to do so.
  
  
•        The ‘fabric standards’ expected are made very clear.
  
  
•        Replacing elements such as ‘single-skin’ or poorly insulated roofs and/or walls can lead to dramatic reductions in energy consumption (as much as 90% in certain instances), providing a clear payback in investment terms.
  
  
•        Peripheral benefits are, of course, a more comfortable, aesthetic, durable and sustainable environment.
  
  
•        There is the potential to reduce costs of elements such as fiscal energy taxation, as well as a substantial contribution in terms of reduced CO₂ emissions.
  
  
•        This is particularly important in light of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, which requires existing buildings to be assessed and given an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) indicating their level of thermal efficiency, as a prerequisite for either selling or letting.
  

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