Government reiterates zero carbon homes target

Anthony Burd, technical director at the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), said the commitment stood despite media stories saying the government was watering down its policy on zero carbon.

“The government is committed to zero carbon homes in 2016,” said Mr Burd at the BRE launch, attended by TTJ. “That is in the budget documentation and it’s a huge commitment to reiterate.”

And the timing of consultation on the Housing Standards Review and Allowable Solutions for developers – both scheduled to end in the next two weeks – meant “all parts of the jigsaw are falling into place”.

Mr Burd, who was standing in for reshuffled DCLG minister Don Foster, also said the government was striking a balance between green and growth policy ambitions in the new Part L, which comes into force next April.

So although builders will have to meet a new mandatory fabric energy efficiency target – Target Fabric Energy Efficiency (TFEE) – they will have flexibilities in the compliance regime for new homes.

The new Target Energy Rating in updated Part L features U-values for external walls at 0.18W/m2K, floors at 0.13W/m2K, roofs at 0.13W/m2K and windows at 1.4W/m2K.

An example of a 76m2 end of terrace house with these U-values would have a Target Fabric Energy Efficiency of 54.26kWh/m2 and a Dwelling Fabric Energy Efficiency of 47.18kWh/m2.

But the flexibility means developers could comply by increasing the external wall and floors U-values to 0.22W/m2K and 0.16W/m2K respectively but uprating the windows to triple-glazed units with a U-value of 0.9W/m2K.

Alternatively the external wall U-value could be reduced to 0.26W/m2K but improvements could be made in other areas such as services.

The government has decided against regulating for a quality assurance requirement “at this stage”. Mr Burd also said the government did not want to “impose on hard-working consumers” by requiring consequential improvements if they wanted to change their windows or add a conservatory.

The Part L changes are predicted to have an overall net cost benefit of £16m, with the new homes sector being cost neutral. This represents a 1.2% construction cost increase for detached homes and 0.30% increase for semi-detached homes.

Further details, including the new Approved Documents, Part L Appendix R, compliance guides and the new version of the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP), will be published on October 21.