With pressure for environmentally-friendly home improvements growing on all sorts of properties, claims have been made to exempt listed buildings from the drive. The Listed Property Owners Club (LPOC) claimed that preserving the buildings historic heritage should override energy efficiency concerns. With as many as 370,000 properties enjoying listed building status across the UK, drives to cut home carbon emissions could be held up by the planning permission complications that seek sto protect historic homes exactly intact. Kelly Smith, director of the LPOC, said Listed property owners are interested in [ecological home improvements], but sometimes it does prove very difficult because of the rules and regulations that surround listed buildings. Its a very difficult subject because theres a fine line between making things energy efficient for the future, and keeping the propertys character intact, she added. Home improvements such as the installation of kitchen waste organiser systems and of wall insulation are more difficult for listed buildings, due to concerns over damage to existing walls and fittings.