Back in the UK for project meetings, I arrived at my inlaws’ house in Dorking yesterday evening and within minutes my father-in-law was spreading the Telegraph on the table, pointing to the article about how long efficiency measures take to pay back. Phil at the Sustainability Blog has already commented on the RICS claims and I agree with him.
And here’s first hand proof of the damage their histrionics have done: as I explained to my father-in-law that the RICS study was making unreasonable assumptions (e.g. simple payback calculations) his eyes glazed over. Why? Because the soundbite had already done its job. Nevermind the VAT debate or discussion of EPCs, he’s now more convinced than ever that there’s no point in pursuing any of this eco-treehugging-mumbo-jumbo as it’s obviously frivolous and expensive.
Thanks RICS.
carbon limited 
the RICS research is so opaque that it almost serves no purpose other that to fuel the sceptics. Grrrr it makes me so angry
I think that the point RICS was trying to make was that there isn’t enough financial support to help people integrate energy efficiency or renewables in to their houses.
Unfortunately, as usual, the story just acts to provoke the usual trouble makers. See http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article2195538.ece