Builder's warning over energy inefficient homes

Up to 250,000 new homes may not be energy-efficient because the Government has delayed enforcing regulations to protect the building industry, it was claimed today.

These houses will lose market value when tough new EU standards are introduced soon, the Oireachtas Environment Committee heard.

Europe’s biggest timber frame firm, Century Homes claimed that the Department of Environment delayed the introduction of energy-efficient building standards for five years because they would have a negative impact on the concrete industry.

Century Homes chief executive Gerry McCaughey said: “Because of the delay, the department has knowingly allowed 250,000 houses to be built to energy inefficient standards, just to protect the market position of the concrete industry.

“When their new EU home energy rating certificate is introduced, home owners will pay the price when they sell buildings with a poor energy rating.”

Mr McCaughey accused the environment department of “anti-competitive practices” to support building contractors who construct houses using nine-inch hollow block and cavity walls in Ireland.

“The real scandal arising from the department’s failure to act is that houses are being constructed in Ireland today to 1997 energy standards,” Mr McCaughey added.

Mr McCaughey claimed that he wrote to environment minister Noel Dempsey outlining his concerns and citing British Government research on the issue in February 1998 but no action was taken by the department until January 2003.