The Minister Don Foster has just announced the changes to the
Building Regulations planned in 2013 / 2014.
While changes to Parts A and C will be brought in in 2013 the
long awaited announcement on the next
Part L has been confirmed. This is the
next step in enabling the delivery of Zero Carbon homes by 2016 and Zero Carbon
non-domestic buildings by 2020. The timetable has been confirmed and it will
come into force in April 2014.
The Targets for new buildings have been set as
·
6% cut in allowed carbon emissions
for new build homes
·
9% cut in allowed carbon
emissions for non domestic buildings
These targets are based on the 2010 standards of compliance.
These figures are different to those consulted on – the
Government is “responding to Consultation views” and have decided on a lower
target than initially preferred by the Government. It would seem that there has
been appreciation of the burden on the industry and a full appreciation of the
difficult times in the Housebuilding market.
It is considered that these targets will be able to be delivered
without the essential contribution of renewables. Services efficiency and
Fabric performance have been researched and shown to be able to provide the
necessary energy savings without having to install PV or other renewable
sources of energy.
A further interesting part of the announcement is the
highlighting of the issue of Allowable Solutions. This may be seen as an
acceptance that some situations will not deliver the full “Zero Carbon” or
“Zero Energy” target within the site boundaries as defined by the 2010
Regulations. It is a form of offsetting the energy use against a more practical
or alternative solution by making a payment towards a Green initiative such as
a wind farm or Biofuel plant.
Further to this and on the back of the Red Tape Challenge the
DCLG will shortly be consulting on a further package of measures to abolish
unnecessary rules imposed on Housebuilders, cut red tape and support housing
growth.
Link to Minister statement - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/energy-measures-to-save-200-in-fuel-bills-for-a-new-home
