about the implementation of the EU Energy Performance of

Buildings Directive.

The Directive is designed to promote energy efficiency in new

and existing buildings and so substantially reduce EU carbon

emissions. Due to come into effect in the UK in January 2006, the

new measures will be delivered primarily through the Building

Regulations (Part L).

While many of the changes were welcomed, there was general

agreement that some need a great deal more thought and

clarification before they can be implemented. There was also

concern that the government is expecting industry to do much of

the development without supplying the resources and funding

needed to achieve this.

Speaking on behalf of architects, Bill Gething of Fielden Clegg

Bradley focused on the fact that the Directive takes a fundamentally

different approach to current Building Regulations which served as

a ‘how to’ manual: “The Government is now leaving it up to the

industry to come up with model solutions and then develop

dissemination and training programmes. The professional

institutions just don’t have the financial and organisational

resources to do this. Government assistance will be needed.”

Speakers from RICS and CIBSE highlighted the fact that unless

a significant programme of recruitment and training is put in place,

building control officers, building surveyors and building service

engineers will be unable to implement many aspects of the

Directive.

Delegates’ comments were submitted to the ODPM before the

consultation process came to an end on 22 October. These can be

downloaded from the Directive Implementation Advisory Group

website: www.diag.org.uk

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