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However, we must take care that the advice and aims are relevant to the building stock in question. Older properties were 鈥渂uilt to breathe鈥�, and this is reflected in the materials used and details adopted, including some built-in redundancy and allowance for movement and ventilation. Simply applying the 鈥渁dvised standards for the modern methods of construction鈥� to the older stock will increase their likelihood of failure and cause the demise of many currently sound buildings.

Yes, we can and need to do something, but let鈥檚 ensure that we apply the accumulated knowledge from history on how buildings perform and are maintained (BRE鈥檚 work comes to mind) before we embark on a one-size-fits-all programme of energy conservation.

Robin Hayward, Hayward Associates, Cumbria