Go Zero

The Chancellor’s Budget Statement in March confirmed plans already announced to exempt zero carbon homes from stamp duty, but the accompanying notes issued by the Treasury give the first working definition of what exactly the government will accept as compliance with its ‘zero carbon’ benchmark.  Housebuilders considering the target will be relieved by the news that energy used for domestic appliances and electronic goods, while having to be from renewable sources, can be effectively sourced anywhere – so green electricity purchases would count. Only energy used for space heating, lighting and hot water will need to be sourced on site or from local (renewable) community arrangements.

The surprise, which housebuilders are not happy with, is the Treasury’s ban on qualifying homes being connected to a gas main. Clearly the Treasury does not want any slacking after the stamp duty rebate has been collected.  Other details of the scheme, which goes live from 1 October 2007, include the news that there will be a formal certification process (details to be issued ‘in due course’) and that any microgeneration equipment used will
have to be approved under a DTI scheme to be launched later this year. The notes add that SAP, which will be used to demonstrate compliance, is expected to be updated later this year to take account of micro wind generation.  Budget Notes 2007 are at http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/757/0A/bud07_budgetnotes_381.pdf (see page 65).

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