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media release Friends of the Earth Scotland, Thursday 13 March 2003 SINGLE SURVEYS: GOOD NEWS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT TOO? Surveys could lead to improved energy efficiency says FoE
Friends of the Earth Scotland today (Thursday 13 March) welcomed the Scottish Executive's decision to begin piloting the use of 'single surveys' in the house buying process as a "potential major boost for the environment". [1] The environment group believes that such a move could pave the way for tackling climate change by improving home energy efficiency.
Made in response to the final report of its Housing Improvement Task Force (HITF), the Executive's proposal will pilot house condition surveys commissioned by house sellers rather than buyers. Friends of the Earth is calling for these surveys to also include a home energy audit, as recommended by the HITF's own report. [2]
Speaking on behalf of Friends of the Earth and the Association for the Conservation of Energy, Kirstie Shirra, said: "The energy auditing of all homes could lead to significant improvements in home energy efficiency. The introduction of 'single surveys' could provide a mechanism for delivering these audits while at the same time improving the home buying process. We have long campaigned for energy auditing and welcome the HITF's recommendation that they should be adopted.
"The homes we live in have a huge effect on the environment. Every day we consume far more energy in our homes than is needed. Because of inefficient heating, poor building fabric and inadequate insulation, a great deal of energy is simply wasted. Poor energy efficiency means buildings, including housing, are responsible for around 40% of UK climate change emissions.
"The Executive has already demonstrated a commitment to introducing energy auditing and with European legislation meaning this has to happen by 2006, we will be looking to them to include audits in any final decision to change the home-buying process." [3]
NOTES TO EDITORS:
[1] The pilot survey scheme announced
today is one measure proposed by the Executive in response to a report
from its Housing Improvement Task
Force (HITF) which addresses common frustrations experienced by homeowners,
house buyers and private sector tenants.
The
full HITF report can be found here: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/housing/pfph.pdf
[2] Friends of the Earth Scotland and the Association for the Conservation of Energy are currently carrying out, a Scottish Executive funded, pilot project with a partner surveying company to determine the use made by house buyers of free energy audits of properties and to evaluate the strategic benefit of the information collated.
[3] The EC Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings will require the energy labelling of all buildings in Scotland from 2006.
[4] FoE and ACE believe energy auditing of homes could:
[5] In January of 2001, Friends of the Earth Scotland and the Association for the Conservation of Energy produced 'Taking the Temperature', a report on energy auditing and the sellers', or independent survey. A summary of the report can be found at: http://www.foe-scotland.org.uk/nation/energy4.html
[6] Friends of the Earth is a supporting organisation of the 'everyone' campaign - an initiative from Scottish Environment LINK. Some 26 organisations with nearly half a million supporters are combining forces to push the environment up the political agenda in the run up to the Scottish Parliamentary elections on May 1st. Already, an opinion poll by System 3 published by the campaign on 26th February shows that the environment is likely to be a decisive issue for the majority of voters during this May's Scottish elections. The campaign features demands for a better environment with specific measures for clean air, healthy seas, safe food, less landfill, protection for wildlife and wild places, reduction in climate changing gases. It also features a campaigning website for supporters to target candidate MSPs directly.
On energy the 'everyone' campaign calls on parties
to:
Further information and background briefings on this web site. More information: Lang Banks on 0131 554 9977 or (pager) 07654 200937
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