Old buildings 'not as damaging to environmental health as first thought'

People who believed that air quality and the environment were being hampered by high emissions from traditionally-built houses may need to think again.

A study by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) has discovered that old stone walls are actually far better at keeping heat in than it was first thought.

This will come as good news to environmentalists, as it appears that people who reside in older buildings are not necessarily using excess fuel to heat their homes.

The report indicated that the amount of heat lost through walls is up to three times less than it had originally been suggested.

SPAB technical officer Jonathan Garlick was pleased with the findings and noted that the organisation is still conducting research on energy efficiency throughout 2011.

"If we aren't basing our approaches on the right figures to begin with, then we could, unintentionally, be doing untold, invasive damage," he remarked.

The research is likely to be greeted warmly by the government, which has recently launched its Green Deal initiative, which is aimed at lending homeowners money so they can green-proof their homes.

Posted by Lauren Steadman