Climate change

I was glad (and so was Arnie) to hear the news yesterday that the Scottish Government have committed to a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions over the coming decade. Scotland is often seen as the 'sick man of Europe' and I am happy that our Government is taking big steps to improve our lot.

One small nagging doubt... If we are all to use less energy, heat our houses less and still keep warm, why does the government not take a proactive stance on the refurbishment of old buildings? As it stands (and I generalise) VAT is chargeable on refurbishment work but not on new buildings. There is no incentive to keep and tart up old buildings, while there is a clear incentive to provide ugly, non-conformist, tract housing This to me seems crazy, topsy-turvy and just plain daft!

Our existing building stock has been sitting for years repaying the initial carbon investment, surely it is better to encourage the re-use of existing buildings rather than pump more greenhouse gases out to demolish them. Not to mention the additional 'footprint' involved in building tat to replace them?

On a plus note, and perhaps this is more of a hope, the proposed reductions in greenhouse gases does present a massive opportunity for innovation in Scotland. Where better to develop future technologies? We may as well innovate our way out of this problem and us Scots are no strangers to invention.

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