Zero Carbon 2016?

The government’s caution in introducing major improvements to Part L in the face of the need to encourage the building of as many homes as possible as quickly as possible, has meant that the improvement in energy efficiency from the 2013 standard for new homes to the proposed 2016 zero carbon will be more of a giant leap rather than a small jump. Meeting the zero carbon standard in 2016 will mean a step change in home building, if true zero carbon is to be achieved, with a mix of fabric improvements to reduce the energy losses, and renewables to provide the lower level of energy input required. Owners and occupiers will also need to be educated about the operation of their property as the technology,such as heat pumps, becomes more complex in order to meet the zero carbon standards.

Martin Russell-Croucher, Director Sustainability & Special Projects, RICS