COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT News Release (175) issued by The Government News Network
on 1 October 2007
Housing and
Planning Minister Yvette Cooper today called on developers to
refocus their efforts to deliver the eco homes of the future as
Communities and Local Government published revised guidance to
help the construction industry respond to the challenge of meeting
the zero carbon homes target.
The guidance, which responds to comments and feedback from
industry, provides greater clarity in a number of areas including
the future eligibility of different energy sources and the method
for calculating anticipated water consumption.
Yvette Cooper said:
"We need to build more affordable homes but we also need to
cut carbon emissions at the same time. That is why we are working
with industry to meet the zero carbon challenge including through
financial incentives.
"The ambition for all new homes to be zero carbon by 2016 is
a challenging one. We need to work in close co-operation with
housebuilders and the green technology industry to can achieve."
HM Treasury will shortly lay draft regulations before Parliament
setting out definition of a zero carbon home for stamp duty land
tax purposes. An exemption on stamp duty land tax for new zero
carbon homes was announced by the then Chancellor Gordon Brown
last December.
Notes to editors
1. The technical guidance can be found here: http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/code_for_sustainable_homes_techguide.pdf
2. The Code for Sustainable Homes was introduced in April this
year. It provides a comprehensive assessment of the overall
sustainability and includes minimum standards for energy and water
at all levels.
3. The Budget 2007 stated: "that from 1 October 2007 all new
homes meeting the zero carbon standard costing up to £500,000 will
pay no stamp duty, and zero-carbon homes costing in excess of
£500,000 will receive a reduction in their stamp duty bill of
£15,000. The exemption will be time limited for 5 years until 30
September 2012, but before the end of the time limit the
Government will review the effectiveness of the relief and
consider the case for an extension".
4. The key changes are:
* The way energy efficiencies for flats with and without
renewables are calculated;
* The way water efficiencies are
calculated; and
* The use of off-site renewable energy
sources. In future, these will not be eligible unless directly
connected to the development concerned. The Code continues to
allow connection to gas and electricity grids as long as the home
produces net zero carbon emissions over the year.
5. The Code Technical Guidance, including definition of zero
carbon, will be kept under review as new evidence emerges about
costs and practicalities, and as technologies develop
6. Currently the energy used to heat, light and run our homes
account for 27 per cent of all the UK's emissions.
Key features of a zero carbon development could include
technologies such as:
Combined heat and power
Combined Heat and Power (CHP) is a
fuel-efficient energy technology that, unlike conventional forms
of power generation, puts to use the by-product heat that is
normally wasted to the environment. CHP can increase the overall
efficiency of fuel use to more than 75 per cent, compared with
around 50 per cent or less from conventional electricity generation.
District heating and cooling systems
District heating is a
system for distributing heat generated in a centralized location
for residential and/or commercial heating
requirements.
District heating systems (DHS) distribute steam or hot water to
multiple buildings. The heat can be provided from a variety of
sources, including geothermal, CHP plants, waste heat from
industry, and purpose-built heating plants.
Aquifer Thermal Energy
Aquifer thermal energy storage uses
underground water reserves called aquifers. There are two wells
(typically) on either side with hydraulic coupling. One well is
for the warm water and the other one is for the cold.
In the
winter, warm water is cooled and passed to the cold well. Energy
is extracted by a heat exchanger for heating purposes. In summer,
the process is reversed and cold water is used for cooling. Once
heated, the water is stored in the cold well. The advantage about
this system is that it is environmentally safe; the water which
circulates from underground to the heat exchangers and back can
not be contaminated as it always remains in the system.
Ground Source Heat Pumps
Ground source heat pumps (GSHP)
transfer heat from the ground into a building to provide space
heating and, in some cases, to pre-heat domestic hot water.
Passive Heating
Passive heating systems are used in buildings
which are insulated to a very high standard and make use of solar
thermal gain and heat exchanges on ventilation systems, so that no
external energy source (other than perhaps background heat
generated by people living there and appliances) is required to
keep the building warm.
Solar and Wind Energy
Solar energy can be used in a number of
ways to provide energy. Passive solar energy is the use of
sunlight to keep buildings warm through the direct warming effect
of the sun on a building, eg via walls and glazing. Thermal solar
panels which provide space heating and hot water. Another method
is to convert solar energy to electricity in photovoltaic cells.
Public Enquiries: 020 7944 4400;
News Releases: http://www.communities.gov.uk