Successful places

with homes and jobs

A NATIONAL

AGENCY

WORKING

LOCALLY

Zero Carbon Homes

Policy & Allowable

Solutions

NW+NEYH - Sheffield Housing Design

Seminar

4 February 2015

Paul McGivern

Design and Sustainability

Zero Carbon Homes Policy &

Allowable Solutions

Definitions Zero Carbon Homes

Why Zero Carbon Homes?

Policy Detail

Costs of Achieving Zero Carbon

Some Design Implications for RPs

What is a zero carbon home?

A zero carbon home is a home that heats and lights itself through a

flexible combination of energy efficiency and renewable energy, and

may also make a contribution to cutting existing carbon emissions

elsewhere.

More technically, it is a home with zero net regulated carbon

emissions. ‘Regulated’ means regulated by the Building

Regulations, and covers space and water heating, fixed lighting and

ventilation, it does not include emissions from appliances or ‘white

goods’.

Why zero carbon homes?

Homes represent one quarter of the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions.

- The zero carbon homes policy mitigates emissions.

Consumer Perspective.

The Climate Change Act

Green Economy - it can also help leverage additional private

investment.

The Budget for 2013 reaffirmed the Government’s 2016 target.

Policy Detail

The zero carbon triangle - path to delivering zero carbon homes.

The zero carbon policy requires some of the carbon reductions to be

achieved on the site of the home, which is done in two stages:

– (i)Fabric Energy Efficiency standard (insulation etc), and

– (ii)Carbon Compliance (on-site renewable technologies and\or

additional fabric energy efficiency).

The remaining carbon can be abated off-site through ‘Allowable

Solutions’.

Approach to implementing zero

carbon homes

Staged Building Regs approach

Steps taken to date:

2010: Requirement for a 25% improvement on

Part L 2006.

2013: 6% uplift from the 2010 standard

2016: 100% improvement on Part L 2006 –

onsite level CSH 4.

Not cost effective to do all onsite.

The Consultation

Allowable Solutions Routes

1. Do more on site

2. Undertake own off-site

measures

3. Contract with a third

party ASP

4. Pay in to a national fund

Queens Speech and Outcome of

the Consultation Queen’s Speech - 4 June 2014 announced Infrastructure Bill.

Response to Consultation – Jul 2014 and seperately announced:

- On-site energy requirements at CSH Level 4

- Shortfall for zero carbon target met through carbon abatement

- Small Sites Exemption.

- No details on the level of a price caps.

- Government confirms that a national

design framework.

Pilot Projects

The HCA design and sustainability team is working with the Zero

Carbon Hub, local authorities and other partners to pilot options at 4

HCA sites:

- Hanham Hall,

- Peterborough,

- Graylingwell, and

- Whitehill Borden.

Certification and Verification

Courtesy of Sweett

Emerging policy & next steps

Allowable Solutions / Additional Cost

Design Implications for RPs

Viability

Level of on-site Energy Efficiency

Innovation – in AS measures

RPs become AS Providers

Emerging policy & next steps

Allowable Solutions

Small Sites Exemption Consultation

18 Nov 2014 to 7 Jan 2015

1. Site size, developer size or both?

2. If site size – what level?

3. If developer size – what criteria?

4. Exemption for energy efficiency?

5. Review period of exemption ie 5 years.

Allowable Solutions Issues

Remaining

AS ISSUES STILL TO BE RESOLVED

Price caps - £/tonne

Rules on Additionality

Size of Small Site Exemption Consultation

Exemptions for First Time Buyers.

ASV+C processes

The above will determine to overall size of the AS market.