More Than One In Six Social Homes ‘Uneconomical’ To Upgrade To Net Zero

In its annual Housing Sector Survey consultancy Savills identified a significant shift towards investment in existing homes. A poll of 138 social housing providers found that 30% expect the need to increase spending in current stock to affect their development programmes. Stock investment, driven by the building safety and zero-carbon agendas, was cited as a top priority by 85% more respondents than in the 2020 survey. Those which have crunched the numbers expect an average cost of £20,600 per home to get their housing stocks to net zero, the research found. But 37% of providers have not yet factored these huge costs into their business plans. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/more-than-one-in-six-social-homes-uneconomical-to-upgrade-to-net-zero-research-finds-72443 

Consumer 'Confusion' Threatens Net Zero Homes Plan

Government plans to decarbonise homes are too complicated and confusing, according to a coalition of consumer and industry groups. They've written to the prime minister to say that current schemes to adapt homes go wrong far too often. The open letter, from Citizens Advice and others, calls for more financial support for making changes. Otherwise, they argue, efforts to curb emissions from millions of homes in the UK will be at risk. Read more on the BBC website.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-58320578 

Keep Funding Green Homes To Meet Emissions Target, Say Businesses

Business groups are urging the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, to keep funding home insulation and other low-carbon measures under the green homes grant, which is under threat from cuts. They warned that moves to reduce the amount of money paid out under the scheme, or abandon it altogether, would make it harder to reach the government’s target of net zero emissions by 2050, and damage the UK’s credibility as host nation of this year’s Cop26 UN climate summit and president of the G7 group of rich nations. Read more on the Guardian website.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/22/keep-funding-green-homes-to-meet-emissions-target-say-businesses 

Developer Commits To Zero Carbon Buildings By 2030

Property developer Great Portland Estates has committed to constructing net zero carbon buildings by 2030. The firm has also signed up to a groundbreaking Climate Change Commitment launched by members of the Better Buildings Partnership. The BBP represent 31 leading property owners who are working together to improve the sustainability of existing commercial buildings. GPE also aims to upgrade its existing portfolio of buildings to achieve a 40% reduction in energy intensity and at least a 69% reduction in carbon intensity by the 2030 target date. Read more on the Construction Enquirer website.

https://www.constructionenquirer.com/2019/09/20/london-developer-commits-to-zero-carbon-buildings-by-2030/

Tory Minister Appears To Slam Cameron's New Housing Scheme

A Tory minister appears to have slammed Prime Minister David Cameron's new starter home plan. Climate change minister Amber Rudd ‘favourited’ a tweet at the weekend that was highly critical of the PM's proposal to exempt the homes in his new scheme from zero carbon regulations.  John Alker tweeted: "Appalling that Tories planning to exempt first time buyer homes from zero carbon regs. Price of building to ZC regs has plummeted." Rudd favourited the tweet but a government source has since claimed that the MP may have clicked the favourite button accidentally or "perhaps there was a technical glitch". However, though Twitter users have the option to retract their 'favourites', Rudd hasn't 'unfavourited' the message. Read more on 24dash.

Zero Carbon Exemptions Pose Risk

Exempting small developments from requirements to build zero carbon targets risks opening up a loophole which could undermine the scheme, experts have warned. In the Queen’s Speech, the government announced it would legislate to exempt small developments from a requirement to produce zero carbon homes by 2016. The government also confirmed that developers on all schemes would be able to use carbon offsetting where it was impractical to build to zero carbon standards. Small developments are yet to be defined for these purposes, with a consultation due to be carried out, but some house builders have suggested it could be in the region of 50 homes. Read more on Inside Housing.

Developers Could Be Given Buyout Option to Avoid 'Zero Carbon' Standard

Developers will be allowed to buy their way out of making homes ‘zero carbon’ under new measures in the Queen’s Speech, Liberal Democrat sources have claimed.  In 2006, the Labour government said all new homes should be ‘zero carbon’ within 10 years – a measure which was due to take effect in 2016. But concerns that the cost could slow house building, ministers have decided builders will be allowed to fit homes up to level 4 of the new code for sustainable homes rather than level 5 – the accepted standard for zero carbon homes. If they choose to do this, however, builders will then have to pay the government a fixed fee based on an agreed carbon price to pay for offset schemes of the government’s choosing. Read more on Inside Housing.

New Energy Efficient Homes Could Slash Bills by Over 50%

Today’s new homes could create annual savings of around 55% on gas and electricity spending, according to the NHBC Foundation and Zero Carbon Hub.  It is further claimed that houses built from 2016 could be 79% cheaper to run.  Following its UK-wide research project into consumer attitudes towards zero carbon homes, NHBC Foundation has worked with the Zero Carbon Hub to chart the energy savings that could potentially be achieved by living in different types of energy efficient new homes.  Read more on 24dash.

Stunell: Government Takes Next Step on Zero Carbon Homes

Zero-Carbon Homes are a step closer after new proposals were announced to cut carbon emissions in new and existing buildings by Communities Minister Andrew Stunell. Mr. Stunell said changes to the country's building regulations would make new homes, shops and offices warmer and cheaper to run, support growth and take England a step closer to meeting its bold low carbon commitments. The ambitious measures, developed together with the construction industry, will help reduce the regulatory cost for businesses, and pave the way for the introduction of zero-carbon homes from 2016. The proposals will also help with the roll out of the Green Deal this Autumn whilst helping to cut both carbon emissions and energy bills for householders. Homeowners will also save money with an extension to the range of simple, electrical DIY jobs that can be carried out without the need for a building inspector, reducing costs for both consumers and installers and the burden on local authorities who inspect work. Read more on the CLG website.

Government Accused of 'Shocking' U-Turn on Zero Carbon Homes

The UK Green Building Council has criticised the Government's U-turn on zero carbon homes, which will mean new homes from 2016 will not have to source all their energy from carbon-neutral sources. The decision came to light in the aftermath of George Osborne's Budget as the details of the change in policy were contained in 'supplementary' Budget documents released by the Treasury. UK-Green Building Council chief executive Paul King said the policy U-turn revealed a 'shocking weakening' of the Government’s green agenda which would remove a valuable stimulus for low carbon growth. Mr King, said: “In the space of two weeks, this Government has gone from a firm commitment on zero carbon homes, to a watered down policy. A zero carbon home will no longer do what it says on the tin.’ Read more on 24dash.

Work to Start on Britain’s Largest Development of Zero Carbon Homes

Construction of Britain’s largest development of ‘zero carbon’ homes is expected to start soon following approval of the scheme by Peterborough City Council’s planning and environmental protection committee today. The homes in Peterborough are being delivered as part of the Government’s Carbon Challenge programme, managed by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). The sustainable development will provide a mixture of 63 two-bedroom, 90 three-bedroom and 68 four-bedroom houses plus 74 two-bedroom apartments in a seven-storey block. The apartment block, complete with a grass roof and green walling will include a 278-sq metre (3,000 sq ft) food store and parking space for cars and cycles. Read more on 24dash.

No Electricity Bills for Residents of Pioneering Eco-Homes

A pioneering affordable homes eco-development that uses earth bunds to improve insulation has been officially. The Unity Gardens development, in Long Sutton, Spalding, built by Lincolnshire Rural Housing Association and supported by the HCA, is a groundbreaking scheme to inform the construction industry of independent environmentally friendly living. The scheme comprises six single storey affordable homes that are surrounded on three sides with earth bunds to offer high levels of insulation. Moreover, the ethos of the project is to encourage a lower-carbon lifestyle – with some residents benefiting from zero electricity bills. The development was supported by a £432,000 affordable housing grant from the HCA. Read more on 24dash.

Shapps Promises 'Flexible Approach' to Delivering New Zero-Carbon Homes

Councils and developers could be given much more flexibility to meet ambitious eco-standards to ensure all new homes are zero carbon from 2016, Housing Minister Grant Shapps has said. The Minister has said he will look at ways builders could make payments to fund community energy projects, such as wind farms and district heating schemes, to meet their obligations to reduce carbon emissions from new homes - this could give developers and councils more freedom and flexibility to decide how to meet their zero-carbon obligations. Minimum standards for energy efficiency measures such as cavity wall insulation will also be set through future revisions to building regulations. These will be based on those revisions outlined in a recent consultation on the Code for Sustainable Homes, which set key benchmarks for the sustainability of new homes. Read the full story on the CLG website.

Shapps Sets Out Grand Design for the Future of Green Housing

Housing Minister Grant Shapps joined eco-designer and broadcaster Kevin McCloud at his new eco-housing development in Swindon to set out his vision to get the green housing industry back on track. After many years of campaigning for greener standards in housing Mr Shapps announced the new Government would bring four years of consultation to a close and get the definition of a zero carbon home nailed down within weeks. Mr Shapps also restated his support for all new homes to be zero carbon from 2016 to take effective action to reduce the 27 per cent of all UK emissions that come from homes. Homes will have all round better insulated walls, windows, ceilings and floors to deliver the new energy efficiency standards, and will be able to use onsite renewables to reduce emissions. Read what Grant Shapps has to say on the CLG website.