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Author Topic: Zero energy new homes by 2020  (Read 10524 times)

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Philofacts

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Zero energy new homes by 2020
« on: June 22, 2013, 11:51:10 am »
The US Environmental Protection Agency energy consumption within buildings accounts for a third of carbon emissions and 40% of global energy use.

In recognition of this the government has set up 'Green Deal' offering householders loans and various grants towards paying for energy saving improvements.

In the UK, carbon neutral new homes will be a requirement of the Building Regulations after 2016.
The EU has gone further setting minimum energy performance requirements for new buildings aiming to achieve 'zero energy' by 2020.
That is, all new buildings, including new homes built within the EU member states, will actually be required to produce more energy than they consume, possibly through the use of solar panels and wind turbines.

Quite how house builders will adapt to these requirements remains to be seen.
It is inevitable that new home prices will increase markedly, not only to reflect the additional costs involved, but to reflect the fact that from 2020, new homes potentially cost next to nothing in energy.
The average household could potentially save £3,000 a year in today's money, as energy prices are forecasted by Ofgem to rise 130% during the next 8 years from the current average of around £1,300 a year.

It should be hoped that whilst house builders appear to have trouble building homes even to a reasonable standard with minimal defects, the new technology could well be a step to far for the UK large house builders!

It could be that each new development might have one large wind turbine supplying power for all the homes being built. Something planners need to be aware of. 
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