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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- room architects
- Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom
- room architects are a young, design and architecture studio based in Aberdeen, Scotland. We assist private clients with high quality domestic new build and extension projects. See our main site for a full description of our services.
2 comments:
The question is how do we meet the targets and will anyone else follow.
it will take the Scottish Government using legislation and changes to the technical standards to really invoke a low carbon future for the built environment in Scotland, something we really should be leading in.
Let's hope the current SNP Government don't water that down and that it doesn't become a political football as opposition parties try to 'outbid' each other with their green credentials without plans on how to achieve it.
The sooner that VAT and other punitive taxes are devolved the better, Scotland can lead the UK in this respect, showing the way.
The Technology Strategy Board using UK Government funds recently launched a prototype competition for low carbon retrofit, it ain't glamorous but when you realise that 80% of the buildings standing now will be standing in 2050, the challenge has been laid down to architects to lead on sympathetic and innovative solutions.
The question is, are we up to it?
Wardog (I know who you are), your comment about 80% of buildings being still standing in 2050 is a very important point both in term of maintaining a low carbon future and in terms of quality of design and construction.
There is very little incentive to exceed the current requirements laid down in the technical standards. As Architects we can merely suggest to clients that a better performing construction will benefit the environment beyond their occupancy. At the end of the day clients vote with their pockets. My feeling is that the government could do more to offer an incentive to builders, developers and clients - otherwise in 15 years time we will find ourselves in the same position we do now - heavy subsidies for post-fix insulation.
surely it must be better and cheaper to design in now?
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