New energy-efficient laws to herald opportunities for construction industry
More energy-efficient homes are set to be built in England after new building regulations came into effect last month (15th June) aimed at improving energy efficiency in new homes.
The rules are part of government plans to reduce the UK’s carbon emissions to net zero by 2050 and set new standards for ventilation, energy efficiency and heating. They apply to extensions and loft conversions, as well as new home builds. The laws also state that new residential buildings must have charging points for electric vehicles.
Parm Bhangal, Managing Director of Bhangals Construction Consultants, said: “With more people concerned about rising energy costs and large household bills, the introduction of these new energy-efficient building regulations couldn’t have come at a better time.
“New homes are already generally already much more energy-efficient than older properties. Any home with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is rated from A, being the most energy efficient, to G being the least. Most new homes are rated at an A or B, so clearly we’ve already made great strides towards energy efficiency.”
According to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the age of a property is the most significant factor associated with energy efficiency, ahead of fuel type and property type.
The figures show that almost all new homes built since 2012 in England have a high energy efficiency rating, compared with just 12 per cent of homes built before 1900.
Parm said: “While we welcome the introduction of these new building regulations, of course there will be a period of time while construction workers learn the guidelines and become proficient in them. There will be a skill gap for a while, which will be heightened by the labour and materials shortage that the construction industry is facing.
“It has never been more important to train your workforce and to create a realistic but ambitious strategy to deliver projects on time and on, or under, budget.”
To find out more about Bhangals Construction Consultants, visit bhangals.co.uk.
