HC Deb 20 February 1978 vol 944 cc451-2W
Mr. Rost

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the approximate percentage heat-loss for a typical uninsulated house through walls, roofs, floors and windows respectively.

Dr. Cunningham

There are large variations in circumstances such as the design of the house and heating system, and in living patterns, which can produce a wide range of heat losses through different parts of the building, but estimates have shown for example that the approximate percentage heat-loss for a typical uninsulated between-the-wars semi-detached house, heated to whole house central heating standards, can be as follows:

Per cent.
Heat-loss through walls 35
Heat-loss through roofs 25
Heat-loss through floors 15
Heat-loss through windows 10
Heat-loss through walls 15

Mr. Rost

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate, despite the Save-It Campaign, of the number of domestic hot water storage tanks remaining inadequately insulated; and what further publicity or other measures he proposed to reduce this waste of energy.

Dr. John Cunningham

The following table shows the estimated number and percentage of homes in Great Britain, at December 1976, that have no domestic hot water storage tank insulation and those with insulation below 3 inches. These estimates are provided by Audits of Great Britain.

000s Per cent.
Total homes 19,020
Total homes with hot water tanks 16,198 100
Homes with uninsulated hot water tanks 3,965 24
Homes with hot water tanks insulated below 3 inches 8,033 49

On 12th December my right hon. Friend announced a number of energy conservation measures, including a 10-year programme to install hot water tank jackets and other basic insulation in up to 2 million public sector dwellings. The Department took the lead in the discussions which led to the circulation in November 1977, for comment by 31st January, 1978, of a draft British Standard for lagging jackets. I hope that there will be early agreement on a British Standard.

The Department will continue, through the Save It publicity campaign, to encourage the installation of lagging jackets of adequate thickness in private sector homes; and will specifically encourage the purchase of lagging jackets to the British Standard, when agreed.

Mr. Rost

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the estimated annual fuel saving that could be achieved if industrial buildings were thermally insulated up to the standards it is intended to introduce under new building regulations.

Dr. John Cunningham

I regret that information in the form requested is not available.