Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly unveiled plans to reduce planning red tape, to make it easier for people to put green technology - like solar panels - on their homes and play their part in tackling climate change.
In a speech to the Green Alliance, she launched a consultation recommending people should no longer need to apply for planning permission to put 'microgeneration' devices on their homes where it is clear there is little or no impact on neighbouring properties.
Ruth Kelly made clear that she wants local people to think carefully about which type of technology will work best in their local area. Local authorities will retain the right to restrict planning permission in exceptional circumstances where the benefit of the technology is clearly questionable and outweighed by its impact on the local environment.
Ruth Kelly said:
"This consultation document sets out important changes the Government wants to make to the planning system to encourage the take-up of microgeneration. This will play an essential part in helping us meet a significant proportion of our future energy needs.
"I believe that the local planning system should support efforts to tackle climate change rather than acting as a barrier, but it is important that we ensure that there are clear, common-sense safeguards on noise, siting and size and that the unique features of conservation areas are protected."
At present, there are more than 100,000 microgeneration installations across the country - including wind, water source or ground source heat pumps and bio mass. In the Energy White Paper, the Government will provide new incentives with the aim of raising eightfold the number of households that are producers as well as consumers of energy.
The announcement is part of a strategy to ensure a more community-based approach on green matters, where every homeowner, local business and local authority can play a greater role. In her speech, Ruth Kelly said that she wants to see local authorities step up the work they are doing to tackle climate change. She added:
"Local businesses and councils have a strong role to play. In many places local government has been ahead of national government - leading the debate, not following it. We must encourage further innovation and help ensure all councils meet the standards of the best."
The consultation paper is part of ongoing work at Communities and Local Government to protect and enhance the environment and tackle climate change.
The closing date for responses to the consultation paper, Changes to Permitted Development, is 27 June 2007.
Technical guidance to help the building industry deliver key improvements to the energy efficiency of new homes was published by Communities and Local Government.
As the Code for Sustainable Homes comes into effect, the manual sets out the requirements for the Code, and the process by which a Code assessment is reached. It aims to make the system of gaining a Code assessment as simple, transparent and rigorous as possible. It will help deliver homes that use less energy and produce fewer harmful carbon dioxide emissions, as well as cut down on the water used and waste generated. The Code will also give homeowners better information about the running costs of their homes.
The Government has set the aim that all new homes will be zero carbon by 2016 and the Code will be the measure by which this target is assessed. The guidance will explain to code assessors, home builders, product manufacturers and consumers in a simple and transparent way how the Code levels can be achieved.
Communities and Local Government Minister, Angela Smith, said:
"Homes account for more than a quarter of carbon emissions and it is vital that we act now to tackle climate change from as many fronts as possible. Building the right type of sustainable homes for future generations is one way in which we can help achieve a 60 per cent reduction in emissions by 2050.
"This guidance explains to the building industry, but also crucially to the public, how new homes can deliver real environmental improvements in key areas like water and energy use. It will also play a real part in helping us all understand how we use the homes we live in and how we can do our bit to help tackle climate change."
Most first-time buyers purchasing a home with a 'E, F or G' energy rating could benefit from grants to help improve the energy efficiency of their homes.
Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) - A-G energy ratings for homes similar to consumer friendly fridge ratings - will be part of Home Information Packs (HIPs), which will be required for all homes being marketed.
Subsidies of between £100 and £300 are typically available from energy suppliers to help fund the costs of insulation and other energy efficiency improvements. In addition, some first-time buyers could be eligible for government grants of up to £2,700.
In a speech on HIPs, Housing Minister Yvette Cooper said she would be hosting a meeting of energy suppliers, local authorities, and the Energy Savings Trust (EST), to develop new measures to help home owners implement the recommendations in EPCs. This could include ideas such as a 'one stop shop' where homeowners, after receiving their energy ratings, could access grants and get reliable quotes to carry out improvements needed at the same time.
New research shows that consumers want to know more about energy efficiency, with the majority supporting the idea of energy ratings. According to You Gov, more than two thirds of people want more information about the energy efficiency of the homes they are buying. The recent poll also reveals that 71% of people think it's a good idea to rate the energy efficiency of homes. Nearly half said they would make their home more energy efficient if they had more information on what to do.
The Energy Savings Trust has estimated that householders could save around £300 a year if they undertook measures in EPCs. If only one in five homeowners make the basic changes recommended, this could cut carbon emissions by the equivalent of taking 100,000 cars off the road.