A new report has called on the government to introduce mandatory minimum energy performance standards at the point-of-sale for all buildings.
The study, prepared by the Association for the Conservation of Energy (ACE) and the Regulatory Assistance Project, was published on 6 October. It said that existing and planned policies for carbon abatement from buildings would be insufficient to deliver on the Fifth Carbon Budget, and recommended a series of interventions.
It said that the new minimum performance standards could serve as the “cornerstone” of the development of a competitive market for high-quality low-carbon retrofit.
ACE estimates the net benefit from energy savings, emissions savings, improved air quality and health, and comfort and productivity to be in excess of £45bn.