New homes failing to meet air-tightness standards

New homes are emitting 6000 t more carbon dioxide a year than they should be by not complying with minimum standards for air tightness, according to a report by the Energy Saving Trust. That figure is estimated to add £650 000 to heating bills a year. With around a million new homes set to be built over the next five years, over 30 000 t of carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere could be saved each year. Philip Sellwood, chief executive of the Energy Saving Trust, says, ‘The report shows that non-complying homes emit 14% more carbon dioxide than complying homes. ‘However, this figure is likely to be even higher, as poor air tightness is an indication of overall poor-quality construction and is likely to have consequences in other areas of energy efficiency. The scheduled inclusion of mandatory pressure testing in the Building Regulations in January 2006 will put an end to this non compliance at a minimal cost