Energy efficiency targets set for new-build homes in England
PLANS to “radically improve the energy performance of new homes” have been unveiled for England, by the Housing Minister at Westminster, Christopher Pincher MP.
Says an UK government media release: “Responding to a consultation on the Future Homes Standard, the government has set out plans to radically improve the energy performance of new homes, with all homes to be highly energy-efficient, with low carbon heating and be zero-carbon ready by 2025.
“These homes are expected to produce 75-80 per cent lower carbon emissions compared to current levels. To ensure industry is ready to meet the new standards by 2025, new homes will be expected to produce 31 per cent lower carbon emissions from 2021.
“Existing homes will also be subject to higher standards – with a significant improvement on the standard for extensions, making homes warmer and reducing bills.
“The requirement for replacement, repairs and parts to be more energy-efficient. This includes the replacement of windows and building services such as heat pumps, cooling systems or fixed lighting.”
The government plans also include measures to tackle:
- Ventilation – a new requirement for additional ventilation and indoor air quality monitoring in high-risk non-domestic buildings such as offices and gyms, reducing the risk of any potential infections being spread indoors.
- Overheating in residential buildings – a new ‘overheating mitigation requirement’ in the Building Regulations.
Adds the release: “The government has also announced a consultation on higher performance targets for non-domestic buildings which will mean they will be zero carbon ready by 2025.
“Taken together, these measures will help to lower the cost of energy bills for families, while helping to tackle our climate change goals.
“The government is committed to reaching net-zero and is taking considerable action to address the emissions from buildings – with heating and powering buildings currently accounting for 40 per cent of the UK’s total energy usage.
“There has already been considerable progress made on emissions from homes, with overall total emissions reduced by about a fifth since 1990 despite there being approximately a quarter more homes.
“In 2019, the government introduced a legally-binding target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050 – making the UK the first major economy in the world to legislate a zero-net emissions target. The measures announced today recognise the important role that the energy efficiency of buildings can play in achieving this goal.”
Read more, here, on the UK Government website.