The World in 2030

The World in 2030 145
A study by the Buildings Research Establishment
found that 43 per cent of the new buildings it tested,
which had received certificates saying that they complied
with the regulations, should have been failed.
Professor David Strong, the head of the Establishment,
observes that plenty of new homes have the
requisite amount of insulation in their lofts, but
quite often it is still tied up in bales, as the builders,
knowing that no one would be checking, couldn’t be
bothered to roll it out. 285
One of the reasons for this is that the government
has allowed builders to turn to the private sector to
get their certificates. 286
Independently, The New Scientist reported on findings that
seem to bear out these allegations:
Last year, when the UK’s Building Research Establishment
inspected 99 new homes to see how well
they complied with building regulations, one-third
failed the standards for airtightness. A common
shortcoming was holes round pipes where they went
through walls. Property owners that want to ensure
that insulation has been properly fitted can use thermal-imaging
cameras to spot areas where heat is being
lost. 287
Plastics have a huge role to play in improving energy efficiency
in new building (and in retro-fitting old buildings). Plastic
insulation materials (and thermal bridges and barriers),