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I'm in two minds about the RICS announcement released today about energy performance certificates. I have the feeling they've shot themselves in the foot again after getting into a bit of mess over their stance on Home Information Packs earlier in the year. The underlying argument from the statement is clear and correct - EPCs are far from the only answer to addressing domestic energy use. But to highlight the research that is attached in such a dramatic way threatens to undermine the RICS's position.
To claim that homeowners will have to wait 208 years to recoup the costs of energy saving measures advised in EPCs is an unnecessary exaggeration - it's the worst payback period for only one of the measures. This overdramatic angle could be perceived as the RICS taking a similar anti-Hips stance that got it into a bust-up with the Government in the Spring.
And the message to the public is less than encouraging. Any householder glancing at the headline will shrug their shoulders and think 'why bother?'. And are such figures set in stone? The Carbon Limited blog offers interesting reasons why predicting precise energy figures is nigh on impossible.
As an outsider to the RICS, I've got to say I'm as confused as you as to their position on sustainability. By highlighting the worst performers what are they trying to say? And does their message risk being overwhelmed by their attempt to grab some headlines?
Sadly this isn't the first time someone from the RICS has done this:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/6477749.stm
As an engineer this pissed me off in two respects:
1) the alarmist 'hundreds of turbines' which seems to suggest that this is the only way we can cut emissions
2) This quote, "What we hope is that the government will engage with us as chartered surveyors because we are the profession with the skills to help achieve these targets."
Makes it seem like the CIBSE never existed.
Posted by: IF Kite | 12 October 2007 at 04:37 PM