It’s been a long and protracted death, but the Queen’s Speech finally spelled the end for plans to drastically reduce emissions from new build.
Instead, the building standards already in place will remain largely as they are. However there will be a new tax for large sites in the form of Allowable Solutions. This tax is based on a price per tonne of carbon for taking the scheme from Code 4 emissions to the “equivalent” of Code 5.
While the definition of large sites is still to be clarified, the 50-home threshold is being quoted by people like the HBF. Based on this, Building Mag estimates over a third of new build sites will be exempt from the Allowable Solutions tax.
This is not Zero Carbon. It’s complete inaction. Anyone caught using the phrase “zero carbon” in relation to this standard should be fined the cost to upgrade their home to the “equivalent” of Code 5.
You could argue (as Mark Brinkley has done) that Zero Carbon died the moment they introduced a buy-out mechanism in the form of Allowable Solutions a few years ago. That aside, maximum emissions allowed under building regs were widely expected to continue to their downward trajectory, even as recently as last year. Judging by the mood at the Zero Carbon Hub Energy Working Group meetings, industry had not only got their head round ambitious targets, but were largely tooled up to achieve them.
But unexpectedly, domestic new build standards have now stalled at 2013 levels with little prospect of improvement.
So let’s jump in the old hot air balloon and survey the lay of the land. You can see the wider landscape of reducing carbon from buildings is in ruins. This latest retrograde step by Government comes hot on the heels of:
- The failure of Green Deal
- Govt bowing to the Big 6 and decimating the ECO programme to insulate lofts and cavity walls
- The Conservatives’ rabid crusade against onshore wind, even where recommended by planners
- Killing the RO for ground based solar
At the same time this Government has recently given us:
- £2.7Bn in tax breaks for fossil fuel industry
- Changes to the law to fast track planning for fracking and allow fracking companies to trespass under your land
- An insanely high guaranteed offtake price for new nuclear, wasting £17Bn of taxpayer funds in one go
All at a time when climate change appears to be accelerating.
Rest in peace, Zero Carbon Homes.
But let’s not cry. Let’s get angry. And vote these dangerous jokers out at the general election.
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