The Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC), the UK’s leading professional body for building and historic environment conservation specialists, is among the key conservation interests that have warned England’s Energy Secretary Chris Huhne that the Green Deal, the Government’s energy efficiency initiative, risks human health and the fabric of older buildings.
The coalition of organisations and individuals has written to Huhne and The Times pointing out that the drive to promote the complete thermal upgrading of pre-1919 buildings could result in ‘expensive future problems for both building fabric and human health’.
The group, which includes Mike Brown, IHBC’s Policy Secretary, said: ‘Inappropriate forms of insulation and the sealing up of interiors take little account of the fact that these buildings, which number millions, perform differently from modern ones and need to ‘breathe’. They are likely to require a different approach, in particular with regard to the movement of moisture within them.’
The coalition includes the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB), the National Trust, the Victorian Society and TV architectural guru Kevin McCloud.
The letter to the Times (copied to The Rt Hon Chris Huhne MP, Secretary of State Department for Energy and Climate Change) stated:
‘We are seriously concerned that the drive to promote the complete thermal upgrading of pre 1919 buildings could be storing up expensive future problems for both building fabric and human health. Inappropriate forms of insulation and the sealing up of interiors take little account of the fact that these buildings, which number millions, perform differently from modern ones and need to ‘breathe’. They are likely to require a different approach, in particular over the movement of moisture within them.
While we strongly support the aim of reducing carbon emissions from the nation’s building stock, we call on the Government to involve bodies knowledgeable about old buildings in research and planning for The Green ?Deal. Many of these bodies already have helpful research to contribute but to date have not been called on to do so.’
Yours faithfully
David Heath, Chairman, Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings
Kevin McCloud
Sarah Staniforth, Historic Properties Director, The National Trust
Janet Gough, Director of Cathedral and Church Buildings Division, Archbishops’ Council, Church of England
Loyd Grossman, Chair, Churches Conservation Trust
Dr Paul Baker, Centre for Research on Indoor Climate & Health, School of ?Built & Natural Environment, Glasgow Caledonian University
Mike Brown, Chairman of the Policy Committee, Institute of Historic Building Conservation
Paul Everall, Chief Executive Officer, Local Authority Building Control
Jon Avent, Chairman, CARE Panel, Conservation Accreditation Register for ?Engineers, The Institution of Structural Engineers
Francesca Berriman, Chief Executive Officer, Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists
Ranyl Rhydwen, Graduate School, Centre for Alternative Technology
Gary Newman, Chief Executive Officer, Alliance for Sustainable Building ?Products
Dr Ian Dungavell, Director, The Victorian Society
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