Mr. Pat Barry:

It requires revising the performance requirements within Part L. The other part of it is moving towards disclosure of embodied carbons. There are a number of actions highlighted in the climate action plan. We have to set up databases of materials.

We have to set up an agreed methodology. We have the levels methodology but there will be some additional requirements where we must give default data for certain materials and there are key regulations around how the data is used. A couple of infrastructural things also need to be in place to enable it, including more training and education to get all of our construction workers upskilled in energy efficiency and getting the whole industry geared up for it. It is very important that it is all communicated well in advance.

One issue with the implementation of the nearly zero energy directive is that it is always beneficial for Government to keep communicating it back to the industry to let it know. In some cases, even when the regulations were introduced in 2017 and 2019, some in the industry were still taken a little back, even though it had been requirement since 2010 under the energy performance of buildings directive. Communication is, therefore, vital.