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Council Housing: Energy

Volume 471: debated on Monday 4 February 2008

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 29 November 2007, Official Report, column 680W, on council housing: energy, if she will make it her policy to issue guidance on sustainable ways of replacing windows in local authority-owned homes. (181239)

The BRE Green Guide currently provides advice on the sustainability of building materials including windows. Our Code for Sustainable (new) Homes draws on the assessments in that guide. This information is available to local authorities in making their own investment decisions on improving their housing stock.

Existing guidance on the decent homes standard states landlords may also want to consider other factors when carrying out work to makes homes decent including carrying out works in an environmentally sustainable way. It refers landlords to Green Street, a web-based tool for sustainable refurbishment developed by Sustainable Homes and the Housing Corporation (www.greenstreet.org.uk).

We do not believe it is necessary to issue further advice on this issue to local authorities.