The Great British Refurb

On February 12, Ed Miliband, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, launched the Heat and Energy Saving Strategy (HES), the latest government proposal for turning our existing housing stock into low carbon and low energy environments.

Mark Barsby, technical manager at Deceuninck, received details of the strategy with high hopes, but was bitterly disappointed. He said: “The strategy contains many ambitious proposals that could have far-reaching consequences. But it doesn’t take into account the part that thermally efficient doors and windows can play.”

Mark also said: “It would seem that once again the loft and cavity wall insulation industries have influenced and lobbied in all the right places and they will continue to benefit from these proposals because under this strategy all homes are to have cavity wall and loft insulation where practical by 2015. On the other hand, our own industry represented by our trade associations, appear not to be making the right connections.

“That is why I would urge everyone connected to this great industry to log onto http://hes.decc.gov.uk/ and take part in the Strategy’s consultation process. And don’t forget to include why Energy Saving Windows should be included in the government proposals. Apart from the very obvious environmental benefits of energy-efficient windows, as an industry we are fighting for our very survival. Is that what the government wants during the worst economic downturn in living memory? The consultation is running from February 12 to May 8 2009, and there are 29 detailed questions that require a response.”

Visit www.deceuninck.co.uk for more.