Renovating Old Homes 'Uses Third Of CO2 as Building A New One'

The government has been urged by the British Property Federation (BPF) to re-use vacant homes across the UK to stem the housing waiting list and take steps in reducing carbon emissions. It reported that research by Empty Homes found that renovating an empty house uses a third of the carbon emissions of constructing a new build. Figures from the BPF revealed that there are more than four million people on housing waiting lists and 762,000 empty homes in England. Liz Peace, chief executive of the BPF commented: "Renovating empty homes is an opportunity for the government to get people off housing waiting lists and into 'good as new' homes; it will also save them money and reduce the burden off of over-stretched councils at a time when housing benefit is also being slashed." Read more on the Energy Saving Trust website.