Go Zero

11 Jun 07

Housing minister Yvette Cooper has outlined the Government's strategy to make all new homes carbon-neutral by 2016.  Speaking on BBC Radio 4's 'Today' programme, she said: "We would like all of them to be carbon-neutral in ten years time, and there is a big and ambitious increase in standards."

She said the move was vital in order to tackle climate change.  "We think it is right, given that homes account for 27% of our carbon emissions, to set new standards for the homes we need to build. We are hoping to build 160,000 additional homes over the next ten years. What we expect is that the zero carbon standards will apply from 2016 but between now and then we will increase the standards, so with a substantial increase in standards in about three years time and a substantial increase in standards in about six years time."

Ms Cooper said the new development of homes in the east of London should become carbonneutral more quickly than other developments.

"We would like to go faster in the Thames Gateway because the scale of development in the Thames Gateway means we should be able to introduce higher standards earlier on some sites. That will pave the way for other areas to follow.  The idea of the eco-town is that you don't simply look at one row of houses or a small estate or an individual home; you actually look at designing the whole community, the whole town, around principles of sustainability."

The Government hopes to cut carbon emission by 60% by the middle of the century.

« Back | email this page | printer friendly version | News Index

posted in [ Transport & Energy News ]