The only organisation that merits the description 鈥渟hort-sighted鈥� is the Association for the Conservation of Energy, in its response to our view on the introduction of new 黑洞社区 Standards in Scotland later this year a move estimated by the Scottish government itself to add up to 拢8k on to the cost of new homes (鈥淪hort-sighted vision鈥� letter, 16 April,).

Homes for Scotland remains fully supportive of the sustainability agenda. In addition to new homes already offering savings of more than 拢500 a year in fuel costs, the home building industry is also leading the way towards a low-carbon economy when compared with almost all other industry sectors, having reduced the carbon emissions of new homes by 60% from 1990 levels.

Not only must such momentum be balanced against very real and very current technical and affordability constraints, but much greater emphasis needs to be placed on systematically improving the performance and energy efficiency of existing dwellings if the Scottish government really wishes to meet its carbon emission reduction targets.

Jonathan Fair, chief executive, Homes for Scotland

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