2000 and beyond

Wasteful homes ‘risk eco-targets’

Key environmental targets are “undeliverable” unless households cut the amount of resources they consume, a government-commissioned report warns.

The UK’s 21 million domestic dwellings are responsible for 27% of CO2 emissions, consume half of water supplies and produce 8% of all waste. Retrofitting existing technologies is the most cost-effective way to reduce households’ impact, the study says.

Taking stock

The efficiency of the current housing stock varies greatly because of a number of factors, including the age of the property, its size, and the inhabitants’ attitudes and habits.

At least 75% of existing properties are still expected to be in use by 2050, the year by which the government hopes to have cut carbon emissions by 60% from 1990 levels.

You cannot possibly deliver a 60% reduction by doing nothing to the existing housing stock.

England’s Aging Housing

• Built before 1919     4.5 million
• 1919-1944                 3.9 million
• 1945-1964                 4.4 million
• 1965-1980                 4.7 million
• After 1980                  3.7 million

Thermal imaging photo showing the areas of heat loss in a building.

Solal panels in new-build, Lymington 2010