Is UK Planning a Barrier to Energy Efficient Heritage Retrofit: A Comparative Analysis of a Selection of London Boroughs

This paper is part of a larger PhD research project examining the apparent conflict in UK planning between energy efficiency and conservation for the retrofit of the thermal envelope of the existing building stock. Review of the literature shows that the UK will not meet its 2050 emission reduction target without substantial improvement to the energy performance of the thermal envelope of the existing building stock and that significantly, 40% of the existing stock has heritage status and may be exempted from Building Regulations. A review of UK policy and legislation shows that there are clear national priorities towards reducing emissions and addressing climate change, yet also shows a movement towards local decision making and control. This paper compares the current status of thirteen London Boroughs in respect to their position on thermal envelope retrofit for heritage and traditionally constructed buildings. Data collection is through ongoing surveys and interviews that compare statistical data, planning policies, sustainability and environmental priorities, and Officer decision-making. This paper finds that there is a lack of consistency in application of planning policy across Boroughs and suggests that this is a barrier to the up-take of energy efficient retrofit. Various recommendations are suggested at both national and local level which could help UK planning and planning officers deliver more energy efficient heritage retrofits.

Avaliação econômica da produção de soja para a safra 2012/13.

Estimativa do custo de produção de soja convencional e de soja transgênica, por hectare, em diversas microrregiões do Brasil, safra 2012/13.

Vitivinicultura brasileira: panorama 2012.

A vitivinicultura brasileira está passando por uma transformação. Trata-se de uma atividade importante para a sustentabilidade da pequena propriedade no Brasil, que tem se tornado igualmente relevante no que se refere ao desenvolvimento de algumas regiões, com a geração de emprego em grandes empreendimentos, que produzem uvas de mesa e uvas para processamento. Na principal região produtora de uvas no Brasil, a Serra Gaúcha, a vitivinicultura está fortemente ligada ao turismo.