Consider the needs of old buildings, experts warn
Wednesday, 3 August 2011 12:10 PM
Several leading property experts have jointly written to Energy Secretary Chris Huhne urging him to consider the needs of older buildings when working on the Green Deal initiative.
Television personality Kevin McCloud, chairman of The Churches Conservation Trust Loyd Grossman and representatives from heritage body SPAB (the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings) and the National Trust are amongst those who jointly wrote to Energy Secretary Chris Huhne and The Times newspaper calling for the needs of older buildings to be represented in Green Deal research and planning activity.
The signatories raised concerns that the drive to promote thermal upgrading of pre-1919 buildings could cause expensive future problems for both building fabric and human health.
The letters said inappropriate forms of insulation and the sealing up of interiors take little account of the fact that these buildings, which number millions, perform differently from modern ones and need to 'breathe'.
Older buildings are likely to require a different approach, in particular with regard to the
movement of moisture within them, the experts added.
The letter concludes: "While we strongly support the aim of reducing carbon emissions from the
nation's building stock, we call on the Government to involve bodies knowledgeable about old
buildings in research and planning for The Green Deal.
"Many of these bodies already have helpful research to contribute but to date have not been called on to do so."
Here are the letters in full:
Letter sent to The Times:
Sir,
We are seriously concerned that the drive to promote the complete thermal upgrading of pre
1919 buildings could be storing up expensive future problems for both building fabric and
human health. Inappropriate forms of insulation and the sealing up of interiors take little account
of the fact that these buildings, which number millions, perform differently from modern ones
and need to 'breathe'. They are likely to require a different approach, in particular over the
movement of moisture within them.
While we strongly support the aim of reducing carbon emissions from the nation's building stock,
we call on the Government to involve bodies knowledgeable about old buildings in research and
planning for The Green Deal. Many of these bodies already have helpful research to contribute but to date have not been called on to do so.
Yours faithfully
David Heath, Chairman, Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings; Kevin McCloud; Sarah Staniforth, Historic Properties Director, The National Trust; Janet Gough, Director of Cathedral and Church Buildings Division; Archbishops' Council, Church of England; Loyd Grossman, Chair, Churches Conservation Trust; Dr Paul Baker, Centre for Research on Indoor Climate & Health, School of
Built & Natural Environment, Glasgow Caledonian University; Mike Brown, Chairman of the Policy Committee, Institute of Historic Building Conservation; Paul Everall, Chief Executive Officer, Local Authority Building Control; Jon Avent, Chairman, CARE Panel, Conservation Accreditation Register for
Engineers, The Institution of Structural Engineers; Francesca Berriman, Chief Executive Officer, Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists; Ranyl Rhydwen, Graduate School, Centre for Alternative Technology; Gary Newman, Chief Executive Officer, Alliance for Sustainable Building
Products; Dr Ian Dungavell, Director, The Victorian Society
****
Letter sent to The Rt Hon Chris Huhne MP, Secretary of State Department for Energy and Climate
Change
Dear Mr Huhne,
I am attaching a copy of a letter which was published in The Times today outlining briefly
concerns about the possible long term effects of aspects of The Green Deal on older buildings, in
particular about the proposal to use standardised and often unsympathetic insulation and
possibly inappropriate thermal upgrading. In addition to those bodies that have signed up there
are others which support its aims, but which for political or other reasons are prevented from
adding their names publicly.
Clearly in a short letter it is not possible to go into technical detail, but we would be happy to
explore these issues further with you and your officials. What we do know for certain is that when
it comes to buildings a huge amount of money, effort and energy is wasted annually putting right
well-intentioned but ill-considered mistakes of the past. We are very keen this does not occur
following the rolling out of The Green Deal. I reiterate the point made in the letter that we are all
committed to improving the energy performance of older buildings, which is a wholly laudable
goal. But we are currently frustrated by what appears to be a blinkered approach to thermal
upgrading, which could pose risks both to public health and long term damage to older buildings.
To date The Green Deal process does not appear to have had any significant involvement of those
who understand old buildings, though we are still very willing to help. We need to proceed with as
full an understanding as possible of any problems we may be storing up for the future. It is not
too late.
Yours sincerely,
Philip Venning
Secretary, SPAB
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