A majority of developers are failing to oversee adequate energy efficiency measures in new homes, the UK's leading monthly journal for environmental policy and business has claimed

Ends Report editor Nicholas Schoon acknowledged that there have been "substantial advances" in the industry, but he said poor construction was offsetting the benefits.

Commenting on the state of many UK housing developments, Schoon said: "They build them fairly shoddily and so their performance is not very effective."

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

Double glazing tops the list of green measures that can improve heat retention and so lower energy consumption, but such insulation measures are only effective if professionally installed to very high standards.

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

Installing double glazing not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions, but also lowers energy bills and can increase the value of your property.

© Adfero Ltd

Author:  Joanne McCabe

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