Green shorts - What is a zero carbon home?

 

 

What is a zero carbon home?
A zero carbon home is one with ‘zero net emissions of Carbon Dioxide (CO˛) from all energy use'. This encompasses all energy use and means that over a year there are no net carbon emissions resulting from the operation of the dwelling.
Industry has warned, however, that the government needs to consider more than just the operational energy, as there are plenty of other aspects associated with emissions that affect a home’s carbon neutrality - water supply, waste treatment, and materials used in construction.
For the moment Level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes is set as the target of zero net emissions from energy use in the home, though in support of further reductions the government is aiming to tackle climate change at the heart of the planning system by:

  • progressively tightening building regulations, to increase the energy efficiency and reduce the carbon footprint of new homes
  • push the ‘Code for sustainable homes’, to increase the environmental qualities of new homes and give homeowners better information about sustainability
  • push the use of the Climate Change - Planning Policy Statement, which expects planning applications to be tested on their carbon ambition.

The Stern Review made clear the need for urgent international action on climate change, so it is now vital that all new homes and other buildings are as sustainable and eco-friendly as possible.

 

Energy use
Low and Zero Carbon Technologies, are viewed as the the long term solution to climate change. At a national level they produce cleaner electricity, and used directly in the home they can reduce emissions and produce cheap heating and hot water.
Around 70% of the housing stock that will be standing in 2050 has already been built, so it is essential that measures are taken now to improve the energy efficiency of existing homes and buildings. However, until zero carbon means zero carbon - from all sources, reduction figures, and phrases like ‘zero carbon in terms of the heat load’ are just misleading.

 

Background documents
Code for sustainable homes
Planning Policy Statement - Planning and climate change