ɹᵻsˈiːvɪŋ ɹˈɔɪəl ɐsˈɛnt ɪn noʊvˈɛmbɚ tˈuː θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪt, ðə plˈænɪŋ ænd ˈɛnɚdʒi ˈækt tˈuː θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪt ɛnˈeɪbəlz ˈɔːl kˈaʊnsəlz ɪn ˈɪŋɡlənd ænd wˈeɪlz tʊ ɐdˈɑːpt ɐ mˈɜːtən ɹˈuːl æz wˈɛl æz spˈɛsᵻfˌaɪ ˈɛnɚdʒi ɪfˈɪʃənsi stˈændɚdz ˌoʊvɚ ænd əbˌʌv ðæt ʌv bˈɪldɪŋ ɹˌɛɡjʊlˈeɪʃənz.
Receiving Royal Assent in November 2008, the Planning and Energy Act 2008 enables all councils in England and Wales to adopt a Merton Rule as well as specify energy efficiency standards over and above that of building regulations.