Government committed to zero carbon target

Housing minister Margaret Beckett today established the government consultation process for making all new homes zero carbon from 2016, adding the government was ‘absolutely committed’ to the 2016 target. The proposals include setting a minimum level of carbon reduction that developers must achieve through, for example improved insulation or providing onsite renewable energy; requiring a greatly increased level of energy efficiency in new homes; allowing developers to tackle carbon emissions by choosing from a list of ‘allowable solutions’ such as providing energy efficient appliances; and setting a limit on the amount expected to be spent on these allowable solutions. Consultation runs until March next year.