Keith Riddle, Managing Director at VELUX, comments on the Zero Carbon Hub’s final recommendations for the carbon compliance levels of new homes released earlier this week:
“The Zero Carbon Hub’s recommendations, we hope, will help in establishing a practical yet flexible framework for the industry that will lead to the creation of energy efficient homes that promote the health and wellbeing of occupants.
“Allowable solutions are widely acknowledged as an important means of meeting zero carbon targets – helping to reduce developer costs on site and making sustainable homes a more attractive place to live. Previously, when the requirement was for a 100% reduction in carbon emissions to be achieved on-site, zero carbon homes were in danger of being stigmatised as little more than airtight boxes, with the drive for energy efficient homes coming at the expense of other important criteria. Allowing zero carbon to be met by including more off-site solutions will provide housebuilders with the flexibility they need to build new energy efficient homes that people want to live in and which promote occupant health and wellbeing.
“Through the new carbon compliance standards, the Zero Carbon Hub recognises that to secure the success of the zero carbon ambition, more needs to be done to ensure that new homes perform to the level of energy efficiency they were designed to meet, which we would certainly support. VELUX is currently building two CarbonLight Homes in Rothwell, Kettering, which will be subject to post occupancy monitoring once completed. The results will be made available to the industry, to help inform and shape the future sustainable agenda."
