Analyses the technical improvements that could be made in existing homes to minimise resource use, and highlights the ways in which policy decisions could help to accelerate the installation of these technical measures. Presents advice on how the Sustainable and Secure Buildings Act 2004 might be used to deliver these improvements.

Looks specifically at the following areas:

Considers methods of minimising resource usage within each of these categories, and discusses how to overcome related barriers.

The Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) was commissioned by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (now Department for Communities and local Government) to examine the potential for improved resource efficiency in the existing housing stock. The existing stock makes up 99% of all homes at any given time so it is acknowledged that there is no option but to make the best use of these existing homes.

The SDC worked with stakeholders, through a series of workshops, to analyse the technical improvements that could be made.

Concludes that government policy needs to focus on the existing stock because of the volume of properties and the significant environmental and social benefits. Finds that the technical solutions are well known and simple, and many have reasonable payback times. However, a number of barriers exist which mean that these improvements are not being delivered fast enough and therefore further intervention is needed.

Identifies several themes for action:

Sustainable Development Commission, tel. +44 (0) 20 7238 4995

01/07/2006

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Sustainable Development Commission

research

Urban Policy > Housing > Housing quality

Energy efficiency