Newspaper
UK homes to be zero carbon in ten years
All new homes built in the UK will be zero carbon by 2016, under ambitious plans announced by Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly. The plans are seen as a means of reclaiming the initiative on green issues after the Chancellor’s Pre-Budget Report, with its package of environmental measures, was met with derision by environmental groups. In particular, Greenpeace accused him of protecting short-term competitiveness at the expense of the environment, while Friends of the Earth labelled the measures “feeble” and “inadequate”.
Kelly unveiled the full strategy last month, with the publication of a consultation document entitled Building a Greener Future: Towards Zero Carbon Development and a new Code for Sustainable Homes.
She said: “Climate change is a real and imminent threat. The Stern Review brought into sharp relief the need for urgent international action. With a rising population and more people living in smaller households, the demands on housing are only set to increase.
“So, it is vital that homes and other buildings are as sustain-able and eco-friendly as possible. Further tough action is still needed to deliver significant energy-use reductions in existing homes, but within a decade I want every new home to be zero carbon. This country is the first to set this ambition, and we look forward to our international partners matching it.
“This consultation paper sets out the need for action across all areas of housing, from existing stock to new build,” she continued. “The Code outlines environmental standards for new homes and I encourage house-builders to go further and faster in designing environmentally friendly housing for the communities of the future.”
A new PPS has also been issued to instruct planning authorities to have a much more positive attitude to projects – such as wind farms – that cut carbon dioxide emissions, and new developments that will be resilient against climate change.
“The Planning Policy Statement sets out where and how planning can contribute most effectively to reducing CO2 emissions,” said Kelly. “We want planning strategies put in place that help secure progress against the UK’s carbon targets – both by direct influence on energy use and emissions and through bringing together and encouraging action by others. Planning should give local communities real opportunities to take action on climate change, and should be doing so now.”
Friends of the Earth welcomed the announcement, but said the date of 2016 was not ambitious enough and that the overwhelming priority is measures for the existing stock of houses now, not one per cent of houses in ten years’ time.
Hugh Ellis, Friends of the Earth’s planning advisor, said: “The planning system has a crucial role to play in reducing UK CO2 emissions. This is why planning authorities must be pushed towards giving the go-ahead to safe, sustainable schemes such as wind farms. But they should also be encouraged to reject applications that significantly impact on global climate change too.
“The technology exists to make new homes carbon zero. We need mandatory regulations to ensure that all new homes are built to the highest environmental standards. And this should happen within months, not years.
“Existing homes and buildings are responsible for around 40 per cent of UK CO2 emissions,” Ellis continued. “Unfortunately, the Government is doing little to cut these emissions. Gordon Brown’s Pre-Budget Report should have made it easier and cheaper for people to go green. There is still time to tackle climate change, but the Government must show leadership on this issue and come forward with the policies to develop a low-carbon economy.”
Stewart Baseley, executive chairman of the Home Builders Federation, said: “We welcome this package of measures in setting both the goal and direction for achieving more and greener homes. Progress will be achieved most effectively through a framework in which the Government sets clear objectives, industry is given the space to deliver and consumers are on board.”
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