Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly published a package of measures for planners and housebuilders, which will help to reduce carbon emissions and bring innovation to the building industry. The stated aim is to put tackling climate change at the heart of the planning system and the way we build new homes.
Currently, the energy used to heat, light and run our homes accounts for 27% of all of the UK's carbon emissions - around 40 million tonnes. The Government is proposing that new homes will all be zero carbon by 2016. Energy efficient and insulated buildings, which draw their energy from zero or low carbon technologies, and therefore produce no net carbon emissions from all energy use over the course of a year, should and could help reduce carbon emissions - providing the carbon footprint of other areas stay the same or decrease too. There is also the added benefit of lower fuel bills for households.
The overall strategy, as set out in the consultation document Building a Greener Future: Towards Zero Carbon Development, provides a real opportunity to deliver more sustainable homes. It was issued as part of a package of wide-ranging measures, including:
A framework for progressively tightening Building Regulations up to 2016, to increase the energy efficiency and reduce the carbon footprint of new homes.
The publication of the Code for Sustainable Homes, which aims to increase the environmental sustainability of new homes and give homeowners better information about the sustainability of their home. It sets out a star rating from one to six (with six being the most sustainable), which can be applied to all new homes. From April 2008, after learning from the voluntary phase, it is intended to propose that all new homes should be required to have a mandatory Code rating, indicating whether they have been assessed and the performance of the home against the Code.
A draft Planning Policy Statement (PPS) on climate change, which expects planning strategies to be tested on their carbon ambition and, in providing for new homes, jobs and infrastructure needed by communities, shape places lower in carbon emissions and resilient to climate change. The PPS expects new development to be located to optimise its carbon performance and make the most of existing and planned opportunities for decentralised, renewable and low-carbon, energy supplies.
Taken together, the Government claims these measures are an important part of meeting its climate change targets by helping to reduce carbon emissions produced by homes as well as reducing waste and harmful transport emissions. Economist George Monbiot points out the opposite is true, since "the government knows that its airport plans will cancel out all its efforts to tackle climate change." George Monbiot's important article Preparing for Take-Off was first published in the Guardian on 19 December 2006. It can also be viewed at www.monbiot.com. What follows is a short extract:
"On Wednesday the secretary of state for communities launched a bold plan to make new homes more energy efficient. She claims it will save 7 million tonnes of carbon. On Thursday Douglas Alexander, the transport secretary, announced that he would allow airports to keep growing: by 2030 the number of passengers will increase from 228 million to 465 million. As a result, according to a report commissioned by the department for environment, carbon emissions will rise by between 22 and 36 million tonnes. So much for joined-up government."
The Government also launched a joint consultation on regulations to set minimum standards for water efficiency in new homes and new commercial buildings.
A zero carbon home is one with 'zero net emissions of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) from all energy use in the home.' The definition encompasses all energy use in the home (including energy for cooking, TVs, computers and other appliances), rather than just those energy uses that are currently part of Building Regulations (space heating, hot water, ventilation and some lighting).
It means that over a year, there are no net carbon emissions resulting from the operation of the dwelling. This could be achieved either through steps taken at the individual dwelling level or through site wide strategies. It will not be necessary for each dwelling to have its own micro-generation capacity where development level solutions would be more appropriate.
A low carbon development is one that achieves a reduction in carbon emissions of 50% or more from energy use on site, on an annual basis.
A new consultation document published by Communities Scotland outlines how green standards will be raised in both the social housing and regeneration sectors in Scotland.
One key proposal will see all social housing providers expected to meet the EcoHomes 'excellent' rating in their developments by 2010. This means that all new social housing will have to be both environmentally friendly and promote a good quality of life for residents. Developments will be as energy efficient as possible. Tenants will save money on electricity, heating and water bills while doing their bit to conserve natural resources.
The consultation document also proposes that Communities Scotland will:
Launching the consultation, chief executive of Communities Scotland, Angiolina Foster, said:
"Communities Scotland works with housing associations to ensure that homes are affordable in every way possible and that includes reducing the cost of running a home by maximising energy efficiency.
"We all have an important role to play in safeguarding the future while ensuring that here in the present everyone can enjoy the advantages of their fair share of resources and services.
"We want to promote ways of improving the quantity and quality of green spaces and we will support all those we work with throughout Scotland, as they themselves work to protect and enhance their local environment both for the present and the future.
"Communities Scotland will practise what it preaches - we will be looking at ways in which the Agency itself can become more sustainable in our approach to running our own operation."
Housing associations across Scotland are already incorporating sustainable design in their projects. Some examples, which have featured in Communities Scotland's publication Quality Homes and Places, include:
Knowes View in Faifley, developed by Knowes Housing Association:
Knowes is the first Scottish housing association to achieve the EcoHomes 'excellent' rating. The homes include heightened insulation measures and the timber frame and cladding are sourced from the Forest Stewardship Council, making the majority of the building truly renewable. Additional telephone and electricity sockets are included to promote working from home, reducing the need for car travel.
A Berwickshire Housing Association development in Eyemouth, where a prototype hydrogen-powered fuel cell is being tested as part of a European trial:
The fuel cell is just one of a range of features, including sunspaces and solar panels, designed to reduce tenants' fuel costs and minimise the impact of the development on the environment.
A Partick Housing Association tenement in Glasgow's West End, which includes a sun-space in one of the top flats and a 15-metre solar panel on the roof:
Its highly efficient, communal heating system is expected to cut tenants' fuel costs by almost 70% and carbon emissions by 1,500kg a year.
A Clydebank Housing Association project, which converted seven tower blocks containing 392 flats from ageing and expensive electric storage heating to energy-efficient community heating:
Tenants are charged £6.25 per week for continuous heating and hot water. They also have the option of being supplied with the electricity generated by the scheme for 10% less than the cheapest alternative supplier, with the excess being sold to the national grid.
Albyn Housing Society's development in Aviemore:
A biomass energy centre has been built to provide each home with hot water and power the energy-efficient under-floor heating, which will be installed in every property. Wood chips from a local timber mill will fuel it. Wood fuel is carbon neutral and the wood chips, which are a by-product of forestry and saw milling, are a renewable energy source that will support local jobs as well as the environment.
A Servite Housing Association development in Monikie, which re-used concrete and sandstone from on-site demolitions to contribute to the completion of the 25 homes:
The amount of recycled material used totalled 2,900 tons. The development also includes:
