Scientists hit by climate doubt fallout

[Andy Hunt]

The only losers would be the fuel supply companies, but that's tough!

The 'market' would just hike the unit price of fuel in order to make itself profitable.

[caspian]

We need the government to order the insulation of all houses to Passivhaus levels of insulation and air tightness

I doubt that's even possible. Passivhaus is a very challenging standard to meet, and a lot of the existing housing stock might have to be demolished and rebuilt. That would likely bankrupt the nation.

Unfortunately we've rather boxed ourselves in by allowing inefficient building practices to become the norm for many years. We can try to get as much insulation in as possible, but beyond that it's a law of dimishing returns.

[JohnB]

We need the government to order the insulation of all houses to Passivhaus levels of insulation and air tightness

That raises all sorts of questions about appropriate materials and techniques, and the quality of the work.

I get the impression that mainstream builders and other "experts" don't understand the needs of old buildings. I might end up with my stone with earth mortar house encased with cement and non breathable insulation if the wrong people were let loose on it. I want to do the insulation and air tightness, probably at my own expense, so I know it's done properly, and I'm not waiting for the government to get round to it.

[stumuzz]

We need the government to order the insulation of all houses to Passivhaus levels of insulation and air tightness

I doubt that's even possible. Passivhaus is a very challenging standard to meet,

Of course it's possible, we turned the economy on to a war footing to fight the Germans. When main street realise the energy situation, raising insulation to passivhaus standards will be a doddle.

[stumuzz]

I get the impression that mainstream builders and other "experts" don't understand the needs of old buildings.

Demolish it and start again if it's not up to a good standard. Simples!

[Andy Hunt]

I get the impression that mainstream builders and other "experts" don't understand the needs of old buildings.

Demolish it and start again if it's not up to a good standard. Simples!

I doubt if the embodied energy and cost would make this worthwhile for most houses, a second-rate refurb would be the most common choice here, I think.

Don't forget that as energy costs rise, the costs of demolition and construction will rise too.

[biffvernon]

A lot of the problem is the modern attitude that says every room must be kept at hothouse temperature and woolly socks are outlawed. It's people's behaviour that does more than U-values.

TEQs would soon sort things out.

[JohnB]

A lot of the problem is the modern attitude that says every room must be kept at hothouse temperature and woolly socks are outlawed. It's people's behaviour that does more than U-values.

They insist on having lots of rooms too. Living in a small space is great. I want to divide my house into three small ones, so each part is easier and more affordable to upgrade.

[biffvernon]

Rasmus puts the boot into the IoP on RealClimate:
http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/ar ... -from-iop/

And Peter Preston has a somewhat depressing, though true, article in the grauniad http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree ... ia-prophet

And in case anyone still doesn't know that America is run by people who are just stark raving bonkers: http://zendirtzendust.com/2010/02/26/so ... astrology/

[stumuzz]

Peter Preston precis. People are ignoring climate change- we need a messiah.