[MovedGoalPosts]

These sort of things are becoming more common, especially for new build where it is more practical for energy efficiency measures to be incorporated into the construction. Indeed trying to prevent air loss and use heat recovery systems for ventilation is becoming common place and will be promoted by the Building Regulations. I've heard of some builders having issues where a property is sufficiently air tight that ceilings started to crack due to the suction of air as the entrance door is closed! We're also seeing an increased use of panel and system type building rather than brick and block walls so as to achieve the high insulation standards demanded today.

But I have to question whether it is value for money to go to such extremes on exiting build refurbs. For that sort of money one could expect to bring up to scratch multiple houses. Indeed when I worked for one local authority a few years ago I was asked quite pointedly by the new broom housing team manager if the money I'd just spent on one home was good value. I agreed it was not, yet it was the council's own policies that had separately identified and budgeted energy efficiency measures funding on top of normal building works. This is in fact the sort of short sighted policy that occurs when people just think in terms of meeting certain targets withut considering reasonableness.

I'm often asked on house surveys whether they should follow the advice on an Energy Performance Certificate to replace a boiler for a modern type when the existing 10 year old standard fan assited flue boiler is working fine. Simple economics dictate that at a probable cost of £3000 for the boiler (including alterations to pipes fo the new connections, radiator bits and bobs and other sundries), it's going to take a long long while to get a payback from saved gas bills. I know boilers should be serviced regularly (many are not), but if yoiu are going to get the full potential of these new things then you need to factor in annual servicing too.