Zero carbon definition to be changed

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Following pressure on the government from the building industry, the definition of zero carbon as currently applied to new housing is to be changed. A consultation paper published today says the requirement for all zero carbon homes to use 100% renewable energy generated at or near the house should be scrapped.

The UK Green Building Council advised the government earlier this year that it would not be possible to meet the requirement, and that as many as 85 per cent of new homes could not meet the current zero carbon targets. The government has a target for all new homes to be zero carbon by 2016.

Government is now proposing to introduce a more flexible definition of zero carbon. Under the plans developers would have to cut carbon emissions on site by increasing energy efficiency or generating renewable energy. The required emission reduction would be set at an improvement of between 44 per cent and 100 per cent on 2006 building regulations – the exact level will be decided by the consultation.

The UK Green Building Council (UK-GBC) has welcomed the consultation
but has warned that Government must not go so far as to completely dumb down the definition of a zero carbon home and risk backtracking on a genuinely world-leading policy.

The government is consulting on the type of solutions that can be used by housebuilders to ensure new homes are ‘zero carbon’ from 2016. However, it will now only consult “later in 2009” on how commercial buildings will also be built to a similar zero carbon standard.

The essential features of the government’s announcement are:-

1) All of a zero carbon home’s renewable energy will no longer be required to be provided on site, or by a facility physically connected to the development. Government is consulting on the “Carbon Compliance level” – the level of carbon emissions to be mitigated on or near the site of the home.

2) Government has proposed a list of potential energy solutions that house builders are allowed to use, that contribute to the definition of a zero carbon home. This list is called the “Allowable Solutions”.

3) Government has proposed that a maximum cost of building zero carbon homes be set out, called a “Capped Cost”. If costs stay high, more flexibility will be allowed in the future.

Paul King, Chief Executive of the UK Green Building Council 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.

“We are pleased government has listened to the advice of the UK Green Building Council in scrapping the problematic requirement for all renewable energy requirements to be provided either on-site or by a direct physical connection. One solution, that developers might invest in new off-site renewable energy infrastructure to provide for some of a zero carbon home’s energy use, looks very promising – and is in line with UK-GBC recommendations.

“It’s sensible to look at how developers can work with energy suppliers and local authorities to build new low and zero carbon energy infrastructure, such as heat networks, in the wider community. We suggested this should come through the setting up of a Community Energy Fund, particularly to help small housebuilders.

Government hasn’t endorsed this but appears to have left the door ajar for the private sector to come forward with a similar proposal”.

“Simply offsetting emissions in nearby existing homes through energy efficiency improvements is not a solution – we need radical action in both new homes and existing homes, it’s not an either/or. We urge government to stick to its guns and rule this option out. A ‘zero carbon home’ built using this mechanism would not be doing what it said on the tin.

“The industry needs clarity as soon as possible on how much carbon should be mitigated on or near site through technology like solar PV or community heating systems – the so-called ‘Carbon Compliance’ level. Where that line is drawn could make or break some types of emerging low-carbon technologies so it’s important to decide on what will be required.

The lower end of the figures being consulted on would represent a significant scaling back on the ambition shown in the original policy, and therefore should be dismissed.

“The idea of setting a ‘cap’ on the future cost of building zero carbon homes is understandably attractive, so that industry is able to plan ahead with a ‘worst case cost’ in mind. But it risks being seen as a get-out clause, which could stifle innovation if it is set at the wrong level.

Using imperfect cost models to gaze into the crystal ball for the cost of zero carbon homes in 2016 is fraught with problems. The best way to reduce costs is to set out in advance what future regulation will look like and give the industry confidence to invest and adapt – then prices will come down.”

“Unfortunately there will be even longer to wait for certainty on exactly how developers will meet the ambition for all new commercial buildings to be zero carbon by 2019. Given the UK-GBC report on this issue was submitted to CLG over a year ago, and the Chancellor set out the ambition for all new buildings to be zero carbon from 2019 back in March, we need to get the ball rolling on this – and quickly.”
Karl Whiteman, Managing Director of Berkeley Homes Urban Renaissance, said: “We’re committed to the zero carbon target, and stand by the recommendations of the UKGBC report on the definition. We need first to build highly energy efficient homes, with the energy demand then met through a sensible combination of on or near-site technology, and some options for off-site renewables where necessary. Of course affordability is key, and that means we need to know what we need to do, with us much certainty as possible, as early as possible. There’s been a lot of innovation over the last couple of years, and we’ll see more – but only if the industry is confident that Government is going to stick to its policy, and help the house-building industry through these challenging times.”

The recently established ‘Zero Carbon Hub’ – an organisation launched to help the industry meet the 2016 goals - is running a series of workshops to enable the industry to engage with the issues in this consultation. For more information go to: