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Green Building Bible, Fourth Edition
Green Building Bible, fourth edition (both books)
These two books are the perfect starting place to help you get to grips with one of the most vitally important aspects of our society - our homes and living environment.

PLEASE NOTE: A download link for Volume 1 will be sent to you by email and Volume 2 will be sent to you by post as a book.
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General: How easy is it?

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  1.  
    • CommentAuthortony
    • CommentTimeNov 24th 2007
     
    The government wants to achieve a target of all new homes being "Zero Carbon" by 2016

    How easy is this?

    VERY! or even easy peasy

    Hows that you ask? Simple --- by not defining what they mean by "Zero Carbon" !!!!!!!!!
    • CommentAuthorTerry
    • CommentTimeNov 25th 2007 edited
     
    thats a bit cynical Tony. politicians making hazy statements - never :sad:
    • CommentAuthorjon
    • CommentTimeNov 25th 2007 edited
     
    Hi Tony

    >>The government wants to achieve a target of all new homes being "Zero Carbon" by 2016<<

    Zero carbon is defined in the CfSH technical notes

    Are you aware that the Government has said that it *will* implement zero carbon in 2016? I thought the phrase used was 'aspirational'

    The target defined in the Draft Climate Bill is 60% compared to a 1990 baseline: This could be interpreted to mean level 5 ('net zero carbon')

    Edit: Checked EWP: The phrase used was 'date fixed by consultation'

    The consultation is the BERR document: Unfortunately BERR is confused as the consultation says

    "All new homes to be zero carbon by 2016" and, in the same paper, "leading to net zero-carbon new dwellings by 2016 (subject to consultation)."

    If anyone knows of a definitive statement of timetable, it would be very useful!
    •  
      CommentAuthorted
    • CommentTimeNov 25th 2007 edited
     
    Whether it's an 'ambition', 'target' or 'aspiration' the 'get out' clauses have been there from the beginning:

    "The Government is clear in its determination to achieve its energy policy objectives
    through an approach that is consistent with the principles of good regulation. Over the
    coming months, we will work to refine our estimates of the benefits the measures in this
    consultation document are expected to deliver, and the policy and administrative costs
    that will arise. Only measures that are well targeted, reasonable and proportionate will be
    implemented. We will assess this on a case-by-case basis, while having regard to the
    collective regulatory impact on business and other parties."

    Building A Greener Future:
    Towards Zero Carbon Development - Consultation
    DCLG - December 2006

    And don't forget that 2016 is for England. Wales is expecting to do it by 2010.
    • CommentAuthortony
    • CommentTimeNov 25th 2007
     
    How are Wales going to do that?
    • CommentAuthorjon
    • CommentTimeNov 25th 2007
     
    Easy to do providing that Central government does not require any targets to be met for housebuilding (you allow the rate of new build to reduce). Do such targets (and financial penalties that go with them) apply to Wales?
    •  
      CommentAuthorted
    • CommentTimeNov 25th 2007
     
    I understand that the Welsh Assembly are expecting to get devolved control over Building Regulations and will then amend them.

    So unless a new home is zero carbon it will not meet the new Building Regs.
    • CommentAuthorPeter A
    • CommentTimeNov 25th 2007
     
    I wonder if they will get some sort of funding from the English parliament/tax payer?
    • CommentAuthorjon
    • CommentTimeNov 26th 2007
     
    either:

    1: relax Planning
    2: accept lower rates of building (which partially defeats a climate change objective)
    3: fund from public purse

    any others?

    Does anyone know if and how they intend to do it? Is it a real commitment or spin?
    • CommentAuthorBowman
    • CommentTimeNov 26th 2007
     
    What about the 20 million odd existing homes?
    • CommentAuthortony
    • CommentTimeNov 26th 2007
     
    Bowman said, "What about the 20 million odd existing homes?" -------------------- They dont count!!!!

    Crazy thing is that they dont feature at all. Its a mad mad mad world.
    • CommentAuthorjon
    • CommentTimeNov 26th 2007
     
    Quite right:

    So, given the likely economic environment, if implemented, the CfSH will just result in the country 'hunkering down' to making use of existing buildings where the effects of Climate Change legislation do not apply.

    Defeats the object without one or more of the counter measures (a relaxation of planning or subsidise new builds). But maybe that's the point?
    • CommentAuthortony
    • CommentTimeNov 26th 2007
     
    Even if we were to achieve all new homes being built being zero carbon (whatever that might mean) ---- This is cloud cuckoo land any way.

    This is only 1% of the problem: OK per year and after 10 years we will have 10% of homes... it makes me laugh to think about it. I would love to see it though.


    But then the existing housing stock will be wasting energy like crazy or more likely all be freezing cold -- no more wood, fuel too expensive?
    • CommentAuthorBowman
    • CommentTimeNov 26th 2007
     
    I noticed something the other day when researching fuel prices, the more you use the cheaper it gets, not unusual in normal economics, but surely there would be an all round benefit in having prices increase the more one used? This would benefit those in fuel poverty, and encourage energy efficiency, a pretty tasty carrot I reckon?
    • CommentAuthortony
    • CommentTimeNov 26th 2007
     
    The best idea I have heard in a long time!!!
    • CommentAuthorjon
    • CommentTimeNov 26th 2007
     
    In order to implement, you would need to know the number of occupants and have a way of ensuring that they did not lie about it: Possibly by linking the Inland Revenue database to that of every electricity supplier.

    If carbon rationing comes about, this may well happen.
    • CommentAuthorBowman
    • CommentTimeNov 26th 2007
     
    Jon, why would you need to know the number of inhabitants? But I do think there would be great potential to abuse, multiple meters for instance (though I think the supplier would have to be pretty daft to let that happen). No idea how it could be legislated.

    The people it would shock the most would be people like my parents, pensioners in big draughty houses, running dirty old oil, complaining of being skint, and suggesting that they'll be long gone before climate change and peak oil become genuine problems.

    My point though was really to Tony's question, zero carbon for new builds is completely dodging the issue, what is needed is the upgrade of the entire housing stock. If at some stage in the future all new homes are zero carbon (whatever that means) while all existing homes meet their 20% target, we might if we're lucky reduce fossil fuel consumption by 30%, if all homes new and old could reduce consumption 50%, we gain a whole 20%, and probably for less capital outlay.

    Scrap VAT on all renewables and insulation products, scrap the ridiculous grant scheme (you want a grant? oh, we've just given the money to someone else, none left sorry) convert the Low Carbon Building Program to a certification initiative, with properly trained advisor's employed by the program ala Citizens Advise Bureau.

    I think I might be getting carried away, sorry....
    • CommentAuthorMike George
    • CommentTimeNov 26th 2007 edited
     
    <blockquote><cite>Posted By: jon
    Does anyone know if and how they intend to do it? Is it a real commitment or spin?</blockquote>

    I know The Welsh Quality Housing Standard is intended to bring all rented and housing association stock up to 'standard' http://new.wales.gov.uk/desh/publications/housing/whqslaguide/guide?lang=en
    Pages14-16 highlights the minimum requirements which include all walls roofs ad floors being in a good state of repair. This invariably results in work subject to Part L1b which in turn requires insulation and other SAP rated critiria to be addressed. I have been involved with a regeneration scheme in Wales and seen this working in practice. The deadline for this to be achoeved throughout Wales is 2010 I agree it could be better- but it is a start
    • CommentAuthorjon
    • CommentTimeNov 26th 2007
     
    Does seem to be a useful start

    My local authority have just published their town plan to meet the sustainability agenda.. where sustainability has been liberally interpreted to mean that the economics of the town centre businesses should be made more sustainable. Also energy was mentioned (at the bottom of the list).

    I think the government has about as much chance as a snowball in hell against this lot.
    • CommentAuthorbiffvernon
    • CommentTimeNov 27th 2007
     
    This report is pertinant: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7113165.stm

    Download the report, HOME TRUTHS: A LOW CARBON STRATEGY TO REDUCE UK HOUSING EMISSIONS BY 80%
    from the Environment Change Institute at http://www.eci.ox.ac.uk/
    • CommentAuthortony
    • CommentTimeNov 27th 2007
     
    Cut all ...by 80% how meaningful is a statement like that?

    Will it ever happen?
    • CommentAuthorbiffvernon
    • CommentTimeNov 27th 2007
     
    Yes. We will be so far beyond Peak Oil by then that it will have happened. The question is whether we plan the energy descent or have it surprised on us.

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