GLA says a quarter of schemes in the capital are exceeding 10% energy renewables target as set out in the London Plan
A quarter of London developments generate more than 10% of their energy needs from on site renewables, exceeding targets set by the Greater London Authority, according to a report commissioned by the GLA.
The study says that eight per cent of schemes generate more that 20% from renewable sources. At the moment the GLA's London Plan requires that new developments generate 10% of energy from renewables, but this target is set to rise to 20% under alterations to the plan.
The report, by London South Bank University, says energy policies under the London Plan will save more than 135,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year and that the most effective technologies at cutting carbon are CHP and CCHP, particularly where biomass fuel is used.
In total the study, undertaken by London South Bank University, looked at 113 detailed energy statements for schemes that had been given planning approval and made a number of recommendations including:
Raising the 10% renewables target to a more challenging level;
Ensuring that all applications are filed electronically and setting up a standard application assessment template;
Carrying out of a major study of detailed designs and actual sites to determine if the installed equipment follows the original planning application and whether the technologies installed actually provide the predicted savings in practice.
