Alan,
If you've been following the news from B-Liar-land you'll know about the "Homeseller's Pack" which is supposed to be coming into force here soon, making sellers get various reports into a dossier before a sale. There was talk of an electrical PIR (Periodic Inspection Report) being part of the pack to accompany the new "Part P" rules, but that appears to have been shelved.
Frankly, I wish the government would butt out of what should be a private transaction. If I'm willing to buy a house without a structural survey, or without a heat-efficiency report, or without a detailed inch-by-inch check of every pipe in case it has lead solder, then why is that anyone's business but mine and the seller's? If I'm concerned about something, I can get a report from an expert, just as people have done up until now.
What if I were buying a place to renovate completely? Why on earth should we have to pay for a survey of plumbing, heating, wiring, etc. if they're all going to be ripped out and replaced anyway?
Therefore no-one can force old folks to insulate their houses better. An old 'banger' churning out pollution is harming someone's health,
But logically, isn't somebody using more heating due to poorer insulation also creating more pollution, even though it may be at a power station miles away rather than at the point of consumption?
This is the same sort of "where do you draw the line?" issue that I've used to argue against the government mandating that we do things "for our own good." That's how we have compulsory motorcycle helmets, compulsory seatbelts, compulsory childseats, and in Australia & New Zealand they've even gone as far as making it a crime to ride a bicycle without a helmet. Each time the existing laws have been used a precedent. What's next? Compulsory asbestos-line suit of armor to walk down the street?
Same principle here: If we're going to start accepting laws which restrict a person's energy consumption because of the pollution, where do we stop? Ban all the Christmas light displays? Ban people from using their car for a non-essential pleasure trip? Ban us from using power on our computers to chat about these things?
