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- Top marks for IHBC’s latest Council as LA Conservation service talks, papers & film get 10/10 from nearly 20% of 120+ delegates, shaping the survey in our new parliamentary push 10/04/2026
- Don’t need your paper Context? Do everyone a favour and pass it on, ‘Spreading the Word’ to help the Conservation Professional! 10/04/2026
- IHBC is planning for growth, so grow with us by volunteering, with our Committees, Boards and Branches, or Panels, Groups and more as suits – just let us know! 10/04/2026
- IHBC’s ‘Management’ CPD Signpost: Cross UK on ‘Fire in historic buildings: reflections following the Glasgow Union Street fire’ 10/04/2026
- IHBC’s ‘Design’ CPD Signpost: MHCLG seeks input from LAs & applicants for evidence base on impact of Design Codes 10/04/2026
- IHBC features ‘Heritage from the (council) doorstep’: Birmingham City Council issues late update on Black Sabbath pub – the full story so far 10/04/2026
- IHBC features ‘Heritage from the (former) doorstep’: Grade II Mill in Leek, Staffordshire demolished after being destroyed by fire 10/04/2026
- CPRE: Fixes for England land use crisis ‘already exist but… fragmented and…neglected’ argues report 10/04/2026
- Historic Houses report highlights ongoing challenges for ‘A Fragile Inheritance…’ 10/04/2026
- Buildings Must Adapt Faster to Climate Change, says Saint-Gobain – Arup Report 10/04/2026
- New Towns programme needs a compelling national vision, says new Lords’ report 10/04/2026
- Submission for the National Railway Heritage Awards (NRHA)2026 now open, till 30/04 10/04/2026
- IHBC features ‘Heritage from the Global doorstep’: Unprecedented coalition sues for Federal Review of President Trump’s Kennedy Center Plans 10/04/2026
- IHBC’s new format ‘CPD Circular’ : Colour coded for quicker access to CPD -from Branches (EM on Master Planning), partnerships to networks & more – including members-only Virtual Council, 08/04 07/04/2026
- Final details on IHBC’s members-only Virtual Council now out… on ‘Conservation Officers & Services’: Book now for 8 April, 4.30pm 07/04/2026
- IHBC’s Research for Practice Digest No.7 now out: ‘Connecting conservation research and professional practice’ 07/04/2026
- IHBC’s ‘Practice’ CPD Signpost: CIAT via DB – Beyond the render… embedding AI tools into architectural education… 07/04/2026
- IHBC’s ‘Professional’ CPD Signpost: HE on ‘New measures to protect Historic Shipwrecks from heritage crime’ 07/04/2026
- IHBC HESPR’s ‘News from the Sector’: DB on winners in IHBC’s Gus Astley Student Award 07/04/2026
- IHBC features ‘Heritage from the doorstep’: Rare Scottish chain-bar suspension bridge secures £1/4Mn support for heritage restoration 07/04/2026
- Defra on England’s first Land Use Framework ‘plans to reshape how we protect and manage our land’ 07/04/2026
- RIBA on Single Construction Regulator: ‘..new system must raise the standard’ so needs ‘a competence?led approach’ 07/04/2026
- SPAB: Emerging Building Craftsperson of the Year Award… to 21 August 07/04/2026
- IHBC features ‘Heritage from the Global doorstep’: What impact does a heritage designation have on (Canadian) home insurance? 07/04/2026
- Latest on IHBC’s members-only Virtual Council now out… on ‘Conservation Officers & Services’: Book now for 8 April, 4.30pm 03/04/2026
Tag Archives: energy
Defra on England’s first Land Use Framework ‘plans to reshape how we protect and manage our land’
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs reports on England’s first Land Use Framework, setting out a plan for ‘managing the country’s finite land to ensure the nation’s long-term resilience’.
Posted in Sector NewsBlog
Tagged building, climate change, energy, environment, food, framework, government, land, nature, planning, rural
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IHBC features ‘Heritage from the doorstep’: £40m plan to cut carbon emissions at 35 public buildings in Liverpool City Region
image for illustration: George’s Dock building, Rodhullandemu, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons Liverpool’s world-famous waterfront is set to benefit from a £40m investment to cut carbon emissions at 35 public buildings across the City reports Liverpool City Region.
Posted in IHBC NewsBlog
Tagged carbon, climage change, conservation, energy, environment, Liverpool
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IHBC features ‘Heritage from the Global doorstep’: Launch of ICOMOS Report on the Implementation of the European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive
On 20 January 2026, the ICOMOS Expert Group on EPBD (Energy Performance of Buildings Directive) Implementation launched the ICOMOS Report on the Implementation of the European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.
Posted in IHBC NewsBlog
Tagged buildings, energy, europe, global, heritage, ICOMOS, sustainability
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National Retrofit Hub on ‘Health, place & retrofit’: Findings and recommendations for change
A National Retrofit Hub paper highlights how retrofit policy and delivery often focus narrowly on technical performance and energy metrics, when ‘enabling communities to have a… say… is critical to delivering lasting benefits.’
Posted in Sector NewsBlog
Tagged conservation, energy, expertise, government, place, retrofit, skills
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IHBC’s ‘Practice (Retrofit)’ Signpost: How RDSAP 10.2 impacts EPC assessments in traditional buildings – an Engine Shed blog
image for illustration: Edinburgh Tenements – Kim Traynor, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons Energy performance certificates (EPCs) tell us how energy efficient our buildings are, but the way these certificates are generated has changed, reports Moses Jenkins for … Continue reading
Posted in IHBC NewsBlog
Tagged building, climate change, conservation, energy, environment, expertise, government, heritage, planning, Scotland, skills
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BEFS 2026 Manifesto: Building Foundations for a Better Scotland
BEFS has launched a new Manifesto, Building Foundations for a Better Scotland, in advance of the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections.
Posted in Sector NewsBlog
Tagged BEFS, building, community, conservation, energy, environment, expertise, health, heritage, planning, Scotland, skills
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Licensing builders must happen following ECO debacle, says FMB
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has warned that poor oversight in ECO scheme shows urgent need for builder licensing to protect consumers and restore trust in retrofit work.
Posted in Sector NewsBlog
Tagged building, climate change, energy, expertise, government, quality, retrofit, skills
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IHBC’s ‘Practice’ Signpost: Traditional and historic buildings – a new Retrofit British Standard, an update from IHBC’s John Edwards, with joint CPD webinar 14/11
‘BS 40104: 2025: Retrofit Assessment for Domestic Dwellings – Code of Practice’, was officially published at the end of September and here Prof. John Edwards, IHBC’s Technical Panel Secretary and lead on the heritage/traditional buildings workstream, updates NewsBlog readers on … Continue reading
Posted in IHBC NewsBlog
Tagged building, climate change, conservation, energy, environment, expertise, heritage, retrofit, skills, training
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National Audit Office: Weak controls and oversight blamed for faulty home installations under energy efficiency scheme
A new report from the National Audit Office (NAO) sets out the reasons for failures in the government’s energy efficiency scheme for homes, including poor-quality installations, weak government oversight and inadequate audit and monitoring.
Posted in Sector NewsBlog
Tagged building, energy, expertise, government, homes, insulation, net zero
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IHBC‘s ‘Research’ Signpost: Eco-efficient retrofitting: How rural heritage buildings can drive the UK’s sustainable built environment
New research, published in periodical Energies offers a roadmap for integrating sustainability and heritage conservation through the adaptive reuse of rural vernacular architecture.
Posted in IHBC NewsBlog
Tagged building, climate change, design, energy, expertise, heritage, rural, sustainability, techniques
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£25.5m Energy Efficiency Scheme (EES) evaluation highlights many buildings required structural works before energy efficiency measures could be introduced
An evaluation of the government’s £25.5m Energy Efficiency Scheme (EES) concluded that many applicants’ buildings required structural works before energy efficiency measures could be introduced.
Posted in Sector NewsBlog
Tagged building, climate change, efficiency, energy, environment, expertise, skills, structures
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New report from the National Retrofit Hub offers recommendations to strengthen energy efficiency standards
image for illustration New report from the National Retrofit Hub offers recommendations intended to strengthen energy efficiency standards to protect private renters.
Posted in Sector NewsBlog
Tagged building, climate change, energy, environment, expertise, planning, retrofit, skills
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MPs say ‘Warm homes retrofit failures pushing UK clean, secure energy targets further off track’
A new report sets out practical measures needed to provide essential certainty and confidence for households and supply chains.
Posted in Sector NewsBlog
Tagged climate change, energy, environment, expertise, government, net zero, retrofit, skills
Comments Off on MPs say ‘Warm homes retrofit failures pushing UK clean, secure energy targets further off track’
Warm homes retrofit failures pushing UK clean, secure energy targets further off track, say MPs
In a new Parliamentary report the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee says poorly designed retrofit schemes, a ‘skills crisis’ and costly assurance failures have significantly set back efforts to decarbonise home heating and bring down energy bills, and pushed … Continue reading
Posted in Sector NewsBlog
Tagged building, climate change, energy, environment, expertise, government, net zero, planning, retrofit, skills
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THA issues evidence to DESNZ on energy performance of private rented homes in England and Wales
The Heritage Alliance (THA) has submitted evidence to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ) on its consultation on improving the energy performance of privately rented homes.
Posted in Sector NewsBlog
Tagged building, climate change, conservation, energy, environment, heritage, net zero, retrofit, sustainability
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IHBC features ‘Heritage from the Global doorstep’: STBA on CALECHE – Circular Innovation for Historic Buildings
image for illustration As a project partner, the Sustainable Traditional Buildings Alliance (STBA) is working with European experts in the CALECHE Project, developing sustainable solutions for historic building conservation.
Posted in IHBC NewsBlog
Tagged building, climate change, conservation, energy, environment, expertise, heritage, retrofit, sustainability
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IHBC’s ‘Practice’ Signpost: Scottish Government’s ‘Energy Performance Certificate reform – Consultation analysis’
A new report offers independent analysis of the consultation on EPC reform, held by the Scottish Government to gain views and greater understanding on what could be achieved in this area, has been issued.
Posted in IHBC NewsBlog
Tagged building, climate change, energy, environment, expertise, government, net zero, Scotland, skills
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IHBC’s Context 182 now out (Part 1): ‘Heating and ventilation’ from Sustainable heating for listed buildings to people-first retrofit, hothouses and more (& even Alec & Gus!)
The new issue of IHBC’s members’ journal, Context – No. 182 – examines ‘heating and ventilation’ because ‘Is anything more important to historic building conservation…’, and that’s just the start of our CPD journey that includes Alec Clifton-Taylor, Gus Astley … Continue reading
Posted in IHBC NewsBlog
Tagged building, climate change, conservation, energy, environment, expertise, heating, heritage, skills, sustainability, ventilation
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IHBC features ‘Heritage from the (Scottish) doorstep’: On ‘Heat in Buildings’, Government update from Climate Action Minister
image for illustration Scotland’s Minister for Climate Action, Alasdair Allan has sent a progress update on ‘Heat in Buildings’ to Ariane Burgess MSP, Convener of the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee.
Posted in IHBC NewsBlog
Tagged building, climate change, energy, expertise, government, heating, planning, Scotland, skills
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Consultation on ‘Reforms to the Energy Performance of Buildings’ regime, to 26/02
image for illustration The Government has issued a consultation on changes to Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), Display Energy Certificates (DECs), and air conditioning inspection reports (ACIRs), closing 26 February 2025. [applies to England & Wales]
Posted in Sector NewsBlog
Tagged building, climate change, consultation, energy, environment, expertise, government, planning, skills
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Consultation on ‘Reforms to the Energy Performance of Buildings’ regime, to 26/02
image for illustration The Government has issued a consultation on changes to Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), Display Energy Certificates (DECs), and air conditioning inspection reports (ACIRs), closing 26 February 2025. [applies to England & Wales]
Posted in Sector NewsBlog
Tagged building, climate change, energy, expertise, government
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Scottish House Condition Survey 2023: Key findings published
Figures from the 2023 survey, include updated fuel poverty rates, energy efficiency ratings, the condition of housing and the Scottish Housing Quality Standard.
Posted in Sector NewsBlog
Tagged building, climate change, energy, environment, fuel, government, survey, sustainability
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EPC Report: The future of EPCs – A Roadmap for Change
image for illustration The National Retrofit Hub (NRH) has published its EPC Report on ‘The future of EPCs: A Roadmap for Change’ detailing how EPCs are currently used, identifies barriers preventing EPCs from incentivising home improvement, and outlines an eight-point … Continue reading
Posted in Sector NewsBlog
Tagged building, certification, climate change, energy, environment, expertise, government, planning, retrofit, skills
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Government’s National Buildings Database – A ‘detailed inventory of all the buildings in Great Britain’, including energy performance
The government is developing a detailed inventory of all the buildings in Great Britain, including all domestic buildings (houses and flats) and non-domestic buildings (offices, shops, warehouses, schools, hospitals etc.) and include information such as the size, age, construction and … Continue reading
Posted in Sector NewsBlog
Tagged climate change, energy, environment, expertise, government, planning
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Consultation on ‘Reforms to the Energy Performance of Buildings’ regime, to 26/02
image for illustration The Government has issued a consultation on changes to Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), Display Energy Certificates (DECs), and air conditioning inspection reports (ACIRs), closing 26 February 2025. [applies to England & Wales]
Posted in Sector NewsBlog
Tagged building, climate change, energy, environment, expertise, government, skills
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