New homes Low carbon
Zero carbon
> In May 2008 the UK Green Building Council told
Barratt
Countdown
the government straight: 80 per cent of housing
to cuts
developments would never reach zero carbon from
on-site renewables – just from a technical perspective,
2007: Code for
never mind the cost. Something had to give.
Sustainable Homes
In July 2009, following a consultation, housing
launched – government
minister John Healey announced a new definition
announces all homes
to be zero carbon from
of zero carbon. From 2016, a zero carbon home
2016
would need to emit at least 70% less carbon than is
allowed under current Building Regulations (2006).
2008: Consultation on
definition of zero carbon
Housebuilders could mitigate the rest by choosing from
homes follows industry a list of ‘allowable solutions’ that includes investment
concern over viability
in low- and zero-carbon energy projects off-site.
July 2009: Housing The full list of ‘allowable solutions’ and details of
minister John Healey
how they work are still being negotiated, and further
announces that zero
carbon homes must
announcements are expected later this year. However,
achieve a 70 per cent housebuilders are not expecting an easy ride. Their
cut in carbon emissions
mitigation efforts will have to cover emissions caused
and remainder may
be tackled through
by residents’ use of cooking, TV and other appliances
investments in low- over a period of 30 years, as well as emissions from
carbon energy off-site
heating, lighting and ventilation.
Nov 2009: Healey The consultation on zero carbon suggested that
announces fabric energy
housebuilders may be allowed to invest in ‘low and A Code level 6 home built by Barratt
efficiency standard for
zero carbon homes
zero carbon energy infrastructure’ anywhere within the
UK and its waters. This could mean contributions to policy technically, the overall cost is still an area of
Dec 2009: Consultation
to update the Code for
wind farms in the North Sea or district heat networks concern,’ he says.
Sustainable Homes built by local authorities. Alternatively, housebuilders Slaughter points out that achieving a 70 per
launched
could receive credits for retrofitting existing buildings cent improvement on today’s standards for carbon
Oct 2010: Building near the new development. emissions is likely to require ‘a lot of solar thermal
Regulations due to be
and photovoltaics, which are still fairly expensive’, even
amended to reduce
emissions by 25 per cent
before the cost of the allowable solutions is added on
against 2006 standard,
and revised Code to be
Publication of the new version
top. Yet, he says, the Federation remains committed
to the 2016 goal.
introduced
of zero carbon and the energy
David Adams, a director of the Zero Carbon Hub,
2013: Building
efficiency standard six years before an industry body that works on ways to meet the 2016
Regulations to be
updated to cut emissions
the deadline gives the industry time
target and acts as a bridge between housebuilders, the
by 44 per cent against
wider industry and the government, says publication
2006 standard to respond – David Adam
of the new version of zero carbon and the fabric energy
2016: Building
efficiency standard six years before the deadline gives
Regulations to be
The UK Green Building Council and the Home the industry time to respond.
updated again to cut
emissions by 70 per cent
Builders Federation are keen on the idea of a national ‘These are big steps across a complex industry.
against 2006 standard,
investment fund for low and zero-carbon energy Housebuilders need to understand the target they
with all new homes to be
projects, which housebuilders would pay into as part are aiming for, so they can decrease the costs and the
zero carbon
of receiving zero carbon accreditation for their new risks,’ he says. Yet the cost of achieving zero carbon
2019: All new non-
domestic buildings to be
developments. ‘A fund is surely the simplest way of remains a problem. ‘The assumption that this can just
zero carbon
achieving the twin aims of delivering more housing be absorbed into the land price is not valid in many
and delivering zero carbon homes,’ says Slaughter. cases,’ he says.
Proposals to update the Code for Sustainable Homes Chris Twinn, director of building sustainability at
with the new definition of zero carbon were launched Arup, believes the industry may just have to accept
in December last year. A new fabric energy efficiency that avoiding climate change comes at a price, along
standard for zero carbon of 46 kWh/sqm/yr for with everyone else. ‘All of us are going to have to spend
detached and semi-detached homes, and 39 kWh/sqm/ more,’ he says, pointing out that energy regulator
yr for all others, announced by Healey in November, will Ofgem has already predicted UK electricity prices could
also be added. The government also wants feedback on rise 60 per cent to help pay for decarbonisation.
how to make the Code more accessible to consumers The Department for Communities and Local
and less bureaucratic for housebuilders. Government claims the cost of building a home
Slaughter welcomes these developments, even to Level 3 of the Code has fallen six per cent since
though the issue of how the industry will pay for 2007 as builders have gained experience and supply
zero carbon remains unresolved. ‘Although we have chains have become established. Twinn argues that
increased understanding about how to achieve the just as double-glazed windows have become cheaper >
38 CIBSE Journal February 2010 www.cibsejournal.com
CIBSEfeb10 pp36-42 zero carbon.indd 38 28/1/10 16:33:48
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