Vol. 440 No. 4
25 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for the Environment if all local authorities have been requested to draw up energy conservation programmes for their own buildings and houses scheme; the savings achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The main potential for energy savings in local authority property would arise in relation to their housing schemes. All new local authority houses constructed since 1 June 1992, and all refurbishment works carried out under the remedial works scheme since that date, are required to comply with the Building Regulations, 1992, which have advanced requirements for thermal efficiency. Prior to June 1992, local authority housing would have had lesser, but still significant, thermal efficiency under the earlier Proposed Building Regulations. The older houses, in common with older private houses, would have relatively low thermal efficiency, rectification of which in a structural sense would require commitment of considerable resources but there are other good practices which can be applied without the commitment of such resources.
I am at present considering how best to implement the commitment in the Programme for Government in relation to local authority houses and other property in the light of considerations such as these.
