These days we hear so much on the television and radio, in the newspapers and on the internet about the importance of energy conservation. Most of us probably know that this is ‘something to do with the environment’ or to ‘save a bit on energy costs’ but haven’t delved any deeper into the subject. There are in fact many reasons why domestic and industrial energy conservation is a good idea.

Energy conservation is sensible for many reasons. An energy efficient home with modern heating systems will have lower energy bills than an energy inefficient home with old appliances for example. Also with the introduction of ‘Energy Performance Certificates’ for new homes for sale or rent, energy inefficient homes may even see their sale or rental values drop. Health issues also come into play – poorly insulated homes are more likely to have damp or mould which can cause health problems. The major reason for all the fuss in recent years however is due to the damage we are causing to our environment.

The rise of CO2 in the atmosphere being blamed for the alarming changes to the world’s climate over the past 100 years, for example the increase in extreme weather including droughts and heat waves in the summer and colder, wetter weather in the winter which has meant more floods and rises in sea level. The problem has become so serious that finally worlds’ governments are sitting up and taking notice.

So what are we doing as a society help remedy this situation? ‘Part L’ of the buildings regulations which came into force on 7th April 2006 refers to the ‘Conservation of Fuel and Power Within New Dwellings’. ‘Air testing‘ is used to demonstrate to an inspector that the building complies with the Part L regulations with regard to the leakage of warm air. There is also the ‘Code for Sustainable Homes’ (CSH) which has 6 ratings levels and it is now a legal requirement for all new homes built in England to have a rating.

When it comes to large commercial premises there is the ‘Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method’ (BREEAM) which is an audit carried out by an external assessor with regard to CO2 emissions, waste management and ecological conservation of the site.

These are all steps in the right direction, however more can be done. For example, more compulsory air testing in existing homes rather than just new homes, making BREEAM compulsory rather than an optional assessment for commercial buildings and perhaps making it compulsory for new home builds to meet level 3 on the CSH scale. It can only be a positive for our environment that society has finally taken notice of the environmental challenges that we face, but we must not rest on our laurels.

If you want to find out more about BREEAM and Part L, then visit the Energist UK site for more information.