The party’s spokesman on the environment and rural affairs, Mark Causon, called for a national effort towards greater energy conservation, involving everyone concerned.

“The University of Malta should be involved in researching energy-saving building practices. The guidelines already drawn up by Dr Vincent Buhagiar from the Architecture and Urban Design Department for the Building Industry Consultative Council should be put into practice.

“The construction industry should be informed about the latest energy-saving and environmentally-friendly practices. These include the use of aerated bricks, cavity insulation for interior walls, insulation between double external walls and adequate roof insulation. These practices should gradually be made compulsory, and a requirement for obtaining a building permit,” Mr Causon said.

AD added that it is a great loss for Malta that insulation is not sufficiently used to cool houses in summer and warm them in winter. Houses suffer both from oppressive heat in summer – when they become literally ovens requiring expensive air-conditioners to make them fit for occupation – and the damp cold of winter which, again because of a complete lack of insulation, requires a lot of expensive heating.

“Coupled with the provision of an energy auditing service to businesses and households, these measures would help in reducing our energy needs which are costing the country millions of liri in oil,” Mr Causon concluded.