The Home Builders Federation is emphasising the need for owners of older buildings to take measures to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.

Spokesman John Slaughter said that dwellings that are more than 100 years old typically run up much higher energy bills as they lack heat-conserving green technologies such as roof insulation.

In the absence of energy-efficiency measures, such homes not only cost their owners more in energy bills but also increase the nation's carbon footprint and so accelerate the pace of global warming.

"An older building would need more maintenance and certainly they're generally much less energy efficient than new builds," Mr Slaughter explained. "They may pre-date any national building regulations in relation to energy efficiency."

He estimated that newly-built green homes are on average four to six times more energy efficienct than older builds.

The Energy Saving trust says installing double glazing can cut your home's CO2 emissions by 740kg a year and will also save you £90 in energy bills annually.

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Author:  Joanne McCabe

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