Building a Case for LPG

April 2006 saw major changes come into force for the Building Regulations for England and Wales, including Part L.

The overall aim of these changes is to reduce carbon emissions from buildings and implement the EU’s Energy Performance and Buildings Directive.

The new demands are more stringent than in previous Part L documents. The Elemental Method and Target U-value Method has ceased to be a way of showing compliance for new dwellings. In its place the changes require new buildings to meet a target CO2 emission rate. This is calculated from a computer model, which provides a figure for the maximum mass of CO2 allowed to be emitted from the building according to its floor area. The figure is given in kg/m2 per year, and relates to carbon emissions from heating, hot water, ventilation cooling and lighting.

In the case of existing buildings, the new regulations require improvements to the energy efficiency of the whole building.

Natural gas and LPG offer significant carbon emissions benefits when compared to other fuels. The low carbon emissions of gas, including LPG, allow the building designer more freedom in the construction of the building envelope and insulating materials.

The following table shows the CO2 emissions for common heating fuels used in buildings: