Lords vote in favour of zero carbon homes

The House of Lords has voted in favour of bringing back carbon standards for homes after government attempts to scale back green policies…

Last year, the government revealed it was scrapping regulations relating to zero carbon homes. This included the planned increase in onsite energy efficiency standards, aimed at streamlining development.

However, the government’s attempts to block green policies has been thwarted after the House of Lords voted to reintroduce zero carbon standards and extend the grace period criteria for onshore wind farm subsidies.

Last October, the House of Lords Committee on National Policy on the Built Environment criticised the government’s decision to scrap the zero carbon homes policy, stating: “We disagree with the Government’s decision to remove the zero carbon homes policy and the Code for Sustainable Homes.

“These decisions are likely to add to long-term housing costs through a reduction in energy efficiency, and we have heard no clear evidence that they will lead to an increase in housebuilding”.

The amendment to the Housing and Planning Bill saw peers call upon the government to make higher carbon standards mandatory, stating “that all new homes in England built from 1 April 2018 achieve the carbon compliance standard”. The amendment was approved by 48 votes during the Lords Report Stage of the Bill.

Peers also threw support behind an amendment to widen the grace period criteria for onshore wind farms following the early closure of the Renewables Obligation.

Julie Hirigoyen, CEO of the UK Green Building Council said: “During the ten years prior to July 2015, the leading players spanning the housebuilding industry – developers, product manufacturers, contractors and engineers – got behind zero carbon homes, investing heavily and innovating to make it a reality.

“The unexpected and unwanted scrapping of the policy made a mockery of the Government’s green credentials, and demonstrated complete disdain for the quality of the nation’s new homes and the industry’s investment.

“Having supported the Paris climate agreement with much fanfare, cutting carbon from new homes and buildings will be vital to achieving our commitments.

“Re-introducing the zero carbon homes standard would be a clear next step on this journey, and would provide the certainty the industry needs to continue investing in new skills and technologies.”

The Government has since suffered sustained attacks from green building leaders and sustainability professionals.

“At the start of the year, the Solar Trade Association warned that the Government urgently needed to replace the scrapped zero carbon homes policy to avoid locking in higher carbon emissions and higher energy bills for occupants in future decades.