UK Practice
Government grants
The UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' s (Defra) Warm Front scheme, is offering grants of up to £2,700 to improve heating and energy efficiency. The program is aimed at helping some of the most vulnerable people in England to live in warmer homes as part of the Government's plan to eradicate fuel poverty by 2010.
Energy performance certificates
Under the UK government's UK Climate Change Programme (CCP) before sale, all houses in the UK will require an Energy Performance Certificate outlining the energy efficiency and carbon emissions. This intitiative is referenced to the European Energy Performance of Building Directive (EPBD) and involves a label similar to the voluntary EU eco-label scheme for consumers will tell buyers how much energy a building wastes in heating, hot water and lighting and place the energy efficiency of each home on a scale of A to G.
Practical advice on improving energy efficiency and cut carbon emissions through things like better insulation and micro-renewables will be included. The eco-label is part of a new "Home Information Pack" being introduced to address the cost of failed transactions by providing information on the state of the property. The move mirrors European requirements that from 2009 all homes to be sold will carry an energy certificate.
Revised building regulations
Revised building regulations to increase energy efficiency standards were recently introduced in the UK. The new measures, taken together with changes to strengthen the 2002 Building Regulations, are aimed at helping fuel use and cutting carbon emissions. The new regulations apply to all new buildings and when extensions or renovations are made to existing buildings. As a result builders and developers will need to make greater use of energy saving insulation, more efficient boilers and consider using Low or Zero Carbon Systems such a solar panels and mini-wind turbines.