Conservative-Lib Dem government confirms that from 2016 all new homes will be zero-carbon

The government has committed to the target for all new homes to be zero carbon from 2016.

Doubts arose following the election of the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition that the zero-carbon target set out in 2006 would be kept. However, speaking at the ground breaking of Kevin McCloud’s new sustainable housing project in Swindon, housing minister Grant Shapps’ confirmed that from 2016 all new homes would be zero carbon.

Paul King, chief executive of the UK Green Building Council said the confirmation was timely and right. “Over the past three years, this target has galvanised the construction sector and led to an unprecedented amount of innovation. Zero carbon homes are an appropriate fit with the new government’s agenda. We urgently need to cut carbon emissions while improving peoples’ quality of life”

The industry is still waiting on an announcement on the exact definition of what a zero carbon home is and to make it clear how developers should meet the target.

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