Environmental and energy conservation groups today (Monday 20 August)
welcomed the establishment of an expert panel to advise on deliveringScandinavian energy standards in buildings[1], but warned that Scotlandis currently 30 years behind the best standards in Europe [2].

Friends of the Earth Scotland's Chief Executive, Duncan McLaren, said:

“We welcome this new panel, which we trust will focus not just on theone percent of buildings which are newly built each year, but onimproving the energy standards of all Scotland's buildings. InScandinavia, warm, dry homes that are affordable to heat are the norm -it's not a question of whether we can achieve the same energyefficiency levels in Scotland, but how quickly the step-change can beachieved."

Chas Booth of the Association for the Conservation on Energy (ACE), said:

"Scottish standards are currently 30 years behind the best in Europe.Scotland has for far too long had to put up with cold, damp houseswhich are bad for our health and the environment. We urgently need thispanel to deliver warm, dry, climate-friendly homes."

Ends

NOTES TO EDITORS:

[1] Scandanavian energy standards to be adopted, Executive release
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2007/08/20080754

[2] The most recent change in Scottish regulations, introduced on 1 May
2007, require backstop U-values in domestic buildings of 0.3, 0.25 and 0.2
W/m2K in walls, floors and roofs respectively (Scottish Building Standards
Agency (2007) Domestic Technical Handbook). This is still not up to the
standard set in Sweden in 1978, where the backstop values were 0.3, 0.2 and
0.2 W/m2K respectively (Energy Advisory Associates (2001) Building in
ignorance, demolishing complacency: improving the performance of 21st
century homes).

[3] At present, the average household emits 6 tonnes of carbon dioxide a
year, based on household energy consumption. This accounts for approximately
25% of total UK CO2 emissions, with another 27% coming from transport, and
the rest from industry and commerce.