D&PA takes "urgent" action against climate change

Thursday 30 January 2020

The Development & Planning Authority aims to cut back on Guernsey's carbon dioxide emissions by making changes to local building regulations.

Currently, more than 20% of CO2 emissions are lost through our buildings, with the island's thermal performance standards lagging behind the UK's.

The thermal performance of a building is determined by various elements including the roof, walls, floors and window and door openings. The efficiency of other installed services is also taken into account.

The local regulations were produced back in 2012 and have not been adapted since then, making the thermal performance standards around eight years old.

Pictured: D&PA President, Deputy Dawn Tindall.

A number of amendments have been proposed by the D&PA to improve the energy efficiency of new and existing buildings:

• Increasing performance standards to match current English standards, which are appropriate for Guernsey and its climate
• Increasing the air leakage standard by halving the permitted leakage volume from 10 to 5m3/(h.m2) at 50Pa and to provide clearer guidance on a testing regime
• Amending the 'U values' in relation to the renovation of existing thermal elements to make them consistent with revised new construction standards and into line with the equivalent English standards
• Mirroring the proposed changes with a technical amendment which will take account of imposed 'U values', introduce specific guidance on air pressure testing of commercial buildings and specifically reference a compliance route following calculation methods in the equivalent UK documents

"I am extremely pleased to announce the D&PA's unanimous agreement to these amendments," said the authority's President, Deputy Dawn Tindall. "Climate change has been recognised as reaching a critical point and in June 2019 the States agreed that Guernsey must urgently address the climate and ecological crisis at both local and international level.

"Increasingly, I have been questioned over why our thermal performance standards lag behind those in the UK so, after due consideration, the D&PA has agreed that now is the appropriate time to amend our building regulations.

Pictured: Last year, hundreds of local students marched to urge the States to take action on climate change.

"The measures will be put in place shortly through revisions ahead of the more fundamental review under the climate change mitigation action plan led by the Committee for Environment & Infrastructure that is due to be debated by the States by May this year.

"These changes show that the D&PA are listening and can take action without awaiting the direction of the States - action which is urgent if Guernsey is to play its part in respect of the climate emergency."

The D&PA aims to approve the documents in March and bring the changes into force at the end of June this year.

As the regulations are not retrospective, they will not affect home owners unless they are planning on carrying out work on the external envelope of their buildings.