Most new homes being built are a long way from levels of energy efficiency achievable.
Developers dominate the relationship with plannning authorities who could enforce better energy efficiency standards.
Developers are happy to pay for high end legal and professional support to make their case in the knowledge that it directly impacts their profits. Planning bodies get no reward for engaging in a fight, only stress and agggravation - no surprise they often take the line of least resistance.
So new properties are frequently built to a low standard, often without adequate insulation, no solar panels, no rainwater recycling systems, laid out to maximise density rather than take advantage of orientation etc etc.
The goverment need to regulate this - retrofitting is either expensive or impossible. Otherwise we will have to live with the short term decisions for the 60-100 year life of the property!
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PM's green plan 
PM's green plan 
