Government works towards making new homes carbon neutral

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by Kay Mitchell

New build homes are to receive an energy rating from 1 May as the Government works towards its aim of making all new homes carbon neutral by 2016.

New homes will be ranked according to the Code for Sustainable Homes, which measures categories such as energy, water and waste. For example, the least energy-efficient homes will receive a score of zero while the most energy-efficient homes will receive the full six stars.

Caroline Flint, the newly appointed housing minister, said the ratings would give buyers valuable information about their homes, allowing them to make an informed choice and take action to reduce carbon emissions.

Speaking at the Eco Build 2008 conference, Ms Flint added climate change needs to be dealt with by improving how green and energy-efficient our homes are. New build housing will play an important part in this, and we are already committed to all new housing being zero carbon from 2016.

The move has been welcomed by the UK Green Building Council, who said they would fundamentally change house building in the UK. Paul King of the organisation said buyers of new homes, for the first time, will see how green their home is – not just on its carbon emissions, but on other vital issues such as water consumption and impact on biodiversity.

This will help stimulate the market for green building as consumers demand more sustainable homes that have lower energy bills, are built producing less needless waste and that are great places to live, added Mr King.

Furthermore, The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) is supporting the Government’s target to make all new homes carbon neutral by 2016.