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AUGUST 2014 PRO INSTALLER
PRO NEWS
www.proinstaller.co.uk
BRE Consults With Housebuilding Industry
On Development Of New Homes Standard
BRE has unveiled plans to develop a
voluntary sustainability standard for
new homes that will allow developers to differentiate their product in
the marketplace by recognising performance beyond minimum regulation and provide increased choice for
the consumer. It is inviting all those
involved with the delivery of housing
as well as consumers to have their
say on what should be included in
the standard.
The announcement came in the wake of
the recent Department for Communities
& Local Government Housing Standards
Review (HSR) and subsequent proposed
changes to the regulatory landscape. These
include the dissolution of the Code for
Sustainable Homes and the incorporation
of some of its elements into the building
regulations.
Director of BREEAM, Gavin Dunn said
‘We have our own ideas on the critical
issues we need to address in future housing
delivery – things like resilience to adverse
and extreme weather: flooding, wind,
overheating – mental and physical health
& wellbeing of occupants, resource efficiency, increased biodiversity, low energy,
water and maintenance costs and improved
connectivity. It is essential that the industry
and homeowners engage with us so we can
develop a tool that people and the industry
want to use because it provides increased
quality and choice for the consumer, and
drives innovation and improvements across
the housing supply chain.’
The standard will be developed for the
UK and can be adapted for specific local
circumstances. It will use an easy to understand, consumer focused rating system.
Significantly the standard aims to tackle the
performance gap issue, ensuring that the
home is performing as designed and if not
to recommend a course of action the home
owner can take.
Dunn added: “In the UK we spend a large
proportion of our lives in buildings – we
must continue to push for better sustainability and quality in our homes. Look at
any other sector – automotive, IT, commu-
nications – these sectors are continuously
improving their products - why should
housing be any different?’
The standard will be ready for roll out
next Spring.
[email protected]
Van users losing money by not learning from the past
Van users are losing
money with every mile
travelled, according to
The Fuelcard People
– a Fuel Card Group
company – because
they have neglected
to learn from the past
with drivers refuelling
at excessive prices
every day using outdated fuel cards.
Steve Clarke, group marketing manager, said: “Almost every van user is now
familiar with fuel cards and
understands that the whole
point is to save money on
diesel by paying less than
pump prices. Most firms
now also realise the vital
necessity of avoiding those
suppliers who impose
additional network fees and
transaction charges. The
most common mistake, said
Steve Clarke, is for managers to forget why they
chose their current fuel
cards.
“We are advising van
users to look around for a
better deal than they get
from their current supplier.
“We can compare the
whole market against a
firm’s specific needs and
find the best possible deal
inside a couple of minutes
and I would expect The
Fuelcard People to improve
upon a current offer in
virtually every case.”
T: 0844 870 6942
E: info@thefuelcardpeople.
co.uk
www.thefuelcardpeople.
co.uk