Hot House

Eland House, the headquarters of the Communities and Local Government Department, which is responsible for overseeing the carbon emissions of buildings, has been given the second worst rating for energy efficiency under the department's own rules. The rating of the Natural History Museum, which is a hundred and eighteen years older and has "single-skin brick walls, drafty single-glazed windows and exhibits that require constant heating and lighting", is one level better. The Guardian claims optimistically that "the revelation is likely to be embarrassing to ministers". Spokesbeings blamed "inefficient heating and ventilation systems and an unexpectedly high occupancy" in the building, which was built ten years ago under a less enlightened and forward-thinking administration. The heating and cooling systems are now "likely to be replaced with more efficient models"; it isn't definite, apparently.