Actively Passive.

[gl556tr]

UK Ltd must urgently be active in supporting the construction of passive domestic, public and commercial buildings!

[1ozzy]

Yes, if you say so!

[emmie]

is there some sort of link, or perhaps you can expand on this.

[bobbinwales]

Ye but assume your going to focus first on china usa and India first...

[emmie]

indeed Bobb

[gl556tr]

". . . assuming you are going to focus first on China, USA . . ." will never solve *our* massive waste of energy. The lack of standards on energy-saving buildings has resulted in, for instance, current heating not only warming the humans inside but the surrounding environment. The eye-watering electricity bills reflects this lack of positive, long-term planning.

[davebro]

It's the older buildings that need to be brought up to spec. Not always easy but much could be done.

It's ludicrous that listed buildings should be stuck with e.g. wood framed, single glazed windows just to maintain the "look".

[gl556tr]

I wholeheartedly agree, Davebro, The older buildings must be brought up to spec. Grenfell Towers springs to mind. No example made here in rebuilding with state-of-the-art cladding and minimal-cost heating. On the contrary, one feels that the whole country is resigned to doing . . . well, nothing.

[Atheist]

The planning system gives quite a bit of weight to protecting the character, appearance and historical value of old buildings. But that weight is meant to be balanced against other interests (which should include energy issues). In my view we are failing to give enough weight to the energy issues. It always struck me as odd that old windmills are considered worthy of protection, but that new windmill proposals (which have their own aesthetic) are often resisted.

[gl556tr]

I agree with your view on 'old' buildings such as windmills, Atheist, which I would regard as ‘historical’. Don’t these latter generally have thicker walls? So, they require relatively little insulation, methinks. My impression is that those constructed in the past century are prime candidates for effective cladding. The resulting lower heating bills would be welcome for many.