Views sought on requirements for ventilation, overheating risks in dwellings and electric vehicle charging infrastructure at buildings.
The Department of Finance has launched a consultation discussion document on the energy efficiency requirements and other related areas of the Building Regulations, such as ventilation, overheating risks in dwellings and electric vehicle charging infrastructure at buildings.
The potential changes discussed in the consultation would support the 2021 Energy Strategy – ‘The Path to Net Zero Energy’ which aims to significantly improve the energy and emissions performance of new homes and buildings.
Options in the discussion document include potential next steps which could make conventional oil boilers unsuitable in most new builds, due to their emissions, and moves towards low-carbon heating solutions. The consultation also considers improved fabric standards and renewables in buildings, as well as reviewing wider issues, such as embodied carbon in materials and the assumptions used in building energy assessments.
Find out more about the consultation and how to respond.
The consultation period runs until Wednesday 15 November 2023.
Details of awareness events will be announced in due course.
A further consultation, accompanied by proposed regulations, Technical Booklet guidance and impact assessments, will be carried out prior to the introduction of any changes.
First published 28 July 2023.
Source: nibusinessinfo