The assertion by Homes for Scotland that energy-saving regulations will add 拢8,000 to the cost of new homes is myopic nonsense (鈥淕reen guidelines could threaten Scottish housebuilding鈥�, 8 April, building.co.uk)

In the current era of sky-rocketing energy bills, homeowners will welcome any measures that will help them cut their costs.

Better insulation and air-tightness and other energy-saving measures can be achieved for a tiny fraction of the overall building cost, and this investment is paid back through lower fuel bills. The dividend is usually seen in a matter of months.

Unfortunately, our current building standards have still not reached a par with those that were introduced in Sweden in 1978. To suggest that Scotland should remain more than 30 years behind the best in Europe betrays a shocking lack of ambition.

Chas Booth, senior press and parliamentary officer, Association for the Conservation of Energy

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