§ Mr. Cordleasked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in view of the present fuel and energy shortage, whether he will look into the question of design and construction of industrial, commercial and private buildings with a view to higher standards of insulation, the effective use of energy sources, and waste heat recovery, such as that provided by heat pumps, and other energy systems in the future term, in particular in the light of the 50 per cent. heat wastage in factories and the rate of wastage through such equipment as cooling towers.
§ Mr. ChannonThe scope for improving the required minimum standards of insulation in new buildings is limited by the relevant statutory provisions. Legislation to be introduced in the new year will remedy this. As indicated in a reply given on behalf of the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 6th December 403W —[Vol. 865, col. 464]—the Government are considering what further action can be taken to promote efficiency in the use of energy.