DPA set to tighten building energy efficiency standards

The changes to the standards for thermal performance of buildings should come into force from the end of June.

‘Climate change has been recognised as reaching a critical point and in June 2019 the States agreed that Guernsey must urgently address the climate and ecological crisis at both local and international level,’ said Development & Planning Authority president Dawn Tindall.

‘Increasingly I have been questioned over why our thermal performance standards lag behind those in the UK so, after due consideration, the DPA has agreed that now is the appropriate time to amend our building regulations.

‘The measures will be put in place shortly through revisions to Part L ahead of the more fundamental review under the climate change mitigation action plan led by the committee for the Environment & Infrastructure that is due to be debated by the States by May this year. These changes show that the DPA are listening and can take action without awaiting the direction of the States – action which is urgent if Guernsey is to play its part in respect of the climate emergency.’

DPA vice-president Victoria Oliver said that to improve the island’s energy efficiency it must look to tighten up on the thermal performance requirements while at the same time being mindful of the effect this is likely to have on the cost of construction.

‘To simply impose strict new standards could stifle construction investment so therefore we have looked to make the changes proportionate.

‘We believe that these changes strike the right balance to ensure that appropriately higher levels of thermal performance will be achieved in our new and existing building stock and can be put in place quickly while also taking proper account of the likely effects of this on the local construction industry and on building costs.’

As the regulations are not retrospective they will not affect home owners unless they are planning to carry out work on the external envelope of their buildings.