New builds should be 'more European'
News Category: Industry News
Published: 11-Jul-2007
In the future, landlords may be able to buy homes which are "more European" in design and therefore more energy efficient, an industry expert has predicted.
Stephen Newman, head of architecture at HTA, explained that most homes in the UK were not well designed when it comes to energy efficiency - meaning that tenants end up spending more on utility bills.
He explained: "One of the most important things we can do [to improve energy efficiency levels] is to control houses ventilation systems.
"At the moment they are still leaky. They leak hot air out in winter and let hot air in during summer, so you spend more energy trying to heat or cool the house.
"We will have to improve the technology that we use to build our houses in order to meet building regulations which are constantly being ramped up by the government in line with their energy agenda."
However, a spokesperson for Arla, Malcolm Harrison, recently said that many tenants were more concerned with the price and location of a house, rather than how energy efficient it was.
Mr Harrison said: "I think energy efficiency is going to be fairly low down on [tenants'] list of priorities."
