Housing Minister Margaret Beckett set out the Government's proposals for making all new homes zero carbon from 2016.
More than 25% of the UK's carbon emissions are produced by our housing. With the Government committed to reducing carbon emissions by 80% by 2050, both existing and new homes must become more carbon efficient.
The Government has already set out its plans to make all new homes zero carbon by 2016. This latest consultation process will enable the detailed requirements to be set.
Proposals made include:
Welcoming publication of the consultation, UK Green Building (UK-GBC) Council Chief Executive Paul King said:
"The science on climate change tells us action is even more urgent than it was two years ago when the zero carbon target was first set.
"UK-GBC has some strong views about what should and shouldn't be allowed to contribute to the definition of a zero carbon home. As our task group report showed earlier in the year, these are very complex issues and there will be a lively debate over the coming months.
"The important thing is that, by the end of the process, we have an approach which is clear, provides certainty to all parties and retains the original environmental ambition underpinning it."
Zero carbon status is measured against the annual emissions from heating, ventilation, hot water, fixed lighting, and the expected use of appliances.
The consultation gives an opportunity for all groups to have their say on the proposed structure and further details, including the minimum level of carbon emissions that are reduced by onsite means and the list of allowable solutions. The consultation runs until March 18 2009.
A new technique which could substantially improve the efficiency, cost effectiveness and durability of thin film solar cell panels is being worked on by University of Salford scientists.
Professor Arthur Hill and his team from the University's Institute for Materials Research within the School of Computing Science & Engineering have received one year's funding from the Joule Centre to work on a method of laying down a more efficient solar cell material on a scale suitable for mass production.
There are problems associated with the large scale deposition of the new, highly efficient, Copper Indium diselenide (CIS) in thin film form, and that is what the Salford research aims to solve.
Professor Hill said:
"There are many benefits from being able to use CIS, which could revolutionise the way in which we use solar power.
"At the moment, the main obstacle to being able to mass produce CIS solar cells is a method to deposit thin films of the substance on an industrial scale.
"Following our initial very positive results using a method called PDMS, which is already used in the coated glass manufacturing industry, we are hopeful of being able to create a cost-effective and improved solar cell."
The applications for the new cells are varied and, due to CIS's high resistance to radiation, they would be ideal for use on earth or in space. The cells can absorb 99% of sunlight which hits them and theoretically can convert more than 20% of this into useful electrical power.
Professor Hill concluded:
"In many parts of the world solar cell modules are proving to be a solution to the basic problem of energy supply. This research could represent a significant step-change in the way in which people are able to generate electricity from the sun."
Dunedin Canmore Group became the first housing association in Edinburgh to install a biomass boiler into a social housing development. Its new low carbon development provides 31 affordable homes
The innovative biomass boiler, which supplies heating and hot water for the 31 new flats, tackles rising fuel costs head on, giving residents potentially huge savings in their gas and heating bills in the future. The boiler runs on wood pellets which are a sustainable and carbon neutral form of energy.
The current running costs to the residents compare favourably with current gas tariffs. However, it is likely that it will become a significantly cheaper form of energy in the future, with the anticipated rises in gas prices and reductions in the cost of wood pellets.
Dunedin Canmore Group originally purchased the land from the City of Edinburgh Council and the development completed in Spring 2008. All flats built to cater to families became fully occupied within one week of completion.
Emphasis has been placed on sustainability and the incorporation of strong environmental principles in the design. Much of the stone from the original buildings was reused as the base-course to the new flats.