Zero Carbon Definition Announced

The Minister of State John Healey MP has this month written a statement covering important housing policy issues.

His announcements covered the further definition of zero carbon, affirming the zero carbon targets, announcing Eco Town sites and a consultation on the climate change and renewable energy planning policy statements.

In his statement, he confirmed that all new homes will be zero carbon as of 2016. He also outlined the official definition of a zero carbon home as “one whose carbon dioxide emission is zero or negative across the year.  This includes energy regulated by Building Regulations and other energy used in the home.”
The statement also announced a regulatory minimum “carbon compliance” standard. This will be 70 per cent of regulated energy use. He also outlined new support for small scale renewable heat and electricity generation through the Renewable Heat Incentive and Clean Energy Cash Back.  This will be available for zero carbon homes.

Any carbon not mitigated on site will be dealt with through a range of good quality “allowable solutions” including:

•  further carbon reductions on site beyond the regulatory standard
•  energy efficient appliances meeting a high standard which are installed as fittings within the home
• advanced forms of building control system which reduce the level of energy use in the home
• exports of low carbon or renewable heat from the development to other developments
• Investments in low and zero carbon community heat infrastructure

Four new pioneering eco-town sites were also announced. These will be located at Whitehill-Bordon, St Austell (Clay Country), Rackheath (Norwich) and North West Bicester. These sites will set standards in sustainable living for the future that will need to be followed more widely to deal with the challenge of climate change. The Minister of State set a target of ten new eco-towns to be completed by 2020.
For more information on zero carbon and the sustainable homes policy visit: http://www.sustainablehomes.co.uk.

August 22, 2009 in Green Energy Articles | Permalink | No Comments