Press for Change

Climate change & new housing

It would be of great help if members

could spend a little time pushing South Bedfordshire District Council (SBDC) and raising public awareness over the issue of the energy efficiency of the huge amount of new housing that is planned and

which will further increase the

UK’s CO2 emissions

Michael Taylor, South Beds FoE

Contact your council

Below I have summarised the background. Then I have written suggestions and questions that might be asked. Of course, the best thing for those who have the time is to talk directly with the ward councillor. This might even provide an opportunity to make a first contact. But a letter would also be useful. Also, letters to the local press in Leighton Buzzard and Dunstable would be useful – even if not published, since it would contribute to getting the press to see the energy and climate change is a serious issue and is related to local matters because of the new housing.

Find your South Beds Local Ward Councillor

Background

As houses are heated to a temperature above that outside, energy continually leaks out through their walls and is replaced by the heating system, usually burning North Sea gas. When burnt this produces carbon dioxide. Improving insulation is the cheapest way to reduce CO₂ emissions.

Emissions can also be reduced by the use of the sun’s energy instead of burning carbon-based fuels. This can be done by Photovoltaics (radiation to electrical energy), by solar water heating (radiation to heating water) or, indirectly, by using the energy of the wind with wind turbines.

There is to be massive new building in our area. According to present rules, the building regulations, Part L, are obligatory and have just been updated, coming into force in April, with a one year transition period (rather than three as it used to be). A higher building standard is that of the Building Research Establishment (BRE) at Watford. Their standard is called BREEAM and a subset of that for domestic housing is the EcoHome standard.

A core problem is that Part L of the building regulations is obligatory, but the Ecohomes standard is voluntary. Unless SBDC takes an active role in negotiating with developers and stimulating public interest in raised energy standards, then no developer is going bother with standards that are voluntary.

Ideas for talking with our local district councillors and letters to press

• Everyone says climate change is serious. What is SBDC doing about it?

• To what extent has SBDC taken a lead in informing local people about the seriousness of climate change and the steps needed to combat it?

• Will the new houses to be built be to new standards? What are they?

• Why have we not heard SBDC explain about how the new houses will affect climate change?

• Is it true that other councils such as Merton, Croydon, Woking have persuaded developers to adopt higher standards?

• I am worried about the cost of heating our homes going up. Will the fuel costs of the new homes be less? or go up - as they will with existing houses?

• Do our councillors understand about the seriousness of climate change? Do they care about it?

• What records are there of carbon dioxide emissions in the south Beds District council area so that we can check that CO₂ emissions reduce?

• How does SBDC predict that emissions will change?

Do select from the above – or add whatever your imagination offers you!  All efforts, however time-limited will be of help.

Michael T.

National

Friends of the Earth