Houses 'not as energy efficient as they should be'

Poor building practices are to blame for many UK properties' poor energy efficiency ratings, it has been advised.

Monthly environmental journal the ENDS Report has said that while significant advances have been made in energy efficient measures, there remains a long way to go before the industry can truly be said to have succeeded.

The journal's editor, Nicholas Schoon, added that it was as-yet unclear how the government was going to achieve the sea-change in building practices required if eco-friendly targets are to be met in the coming years.

"[Builders] build homes fairly shoddily and so their performance is not very effective," Mr Schoon claimed.

"It's fairly well know that they're much more leaky in terms of air tightness than they're designed to be.

"There is meant to be inspection by the building regulation people at Defra, but something's gone wrong and the job is not being done," Mr Schoon concluded.


© Adfero Ltd