Shapps sets out Zero Carbon Homes standard

Housing Minister Grant Shapps has announced a tough, but realistic, definition for zero carbon homes that manages to strike the right balance between delivering the zero carbon homes of the future and creating the appropriate conditions to get the homes the UK needs building.

The Zero Carbon Homes standard (to which all new homes started after 2016 must adhere) will ensure that new homes do not contribute to the country's carbon footprint.

Tough standards for fabric energy efficiency (insulation, glazing) will be included in future changes to the Building Regulations and Mr Shapps has also said that the Government will consult on the independent Zero Carbon Hub's recommendations on the levels for other on-site carbon reduction levels which may require renewable energy technologies to be used like solar panels.

Mr Shapps said: "We have delivered on our commitment to nail down a definition for zero carbon homes. This is an historic turning point in our drive to slash carbon emissions and tackle climate change. It paves the way for the green transformation of Britain's homes - making them warmer and more comfortable to live in, and at the same time cheaper to run.

"And we have done this without piling unfair costs on housebuilders. The new definition will balance increased costs of house building with the social commitment we made to reduce our country's carbon footprint.

"This approach is fairer and reaffirms the Government's commitment to reduce regulatory and other burdens on the house-building industry by March 2015. It also plays an important part in protecting the economic stability of the country."

Housebuilders will now only be responsible for emissions from homes themselves, as covered by Building Regulations, so they will need to take action to ensure that the emissions associated with the energy use from heating, lighting, hot water and building services are reduced to zero.

Carbon savings will be made beyond the bricks and mortar, by building homes both with renewable energy technologies on site, such as solar power, and through off-site measures such as local community energy schemes. All new homes started after 2016 will be built to this standard, so housebuilders can now start working towards this date. The independent Zero Carbon Hub has established a series of work streams to address implementation

With this new definition in place, it is now more important than ever to look to retrofitting for the future.

Procurement for Housing has collaborated with Fusion21 to develop a holistic retrofit solution incorporating contractors, consultants, suppliers, products, services, skills, jobs and resident training which will be focused on meeting the green deal and wider sustainability agendas. The retrofit procurement solution is split into five key areas to be launched between May and September 2011.

1. Photovoltaics & solar (May)
2. Insulation & air tightness (July)
3. Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) and Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV) (July)
4. Pumps (September)
5. Flue Gas Heat Recovery (September)

Further details of these agreements will be announced on the PfH website and in our eNewsletters. If you have any queries, please contact info@procurementforhousing.co.uk