New Homes Carbon Emissions and Energy Efficiency 2020-02-24

2020-02-24

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Q1 Direct Answer
Andrew Selous Con
Mid Cornwall
Context
The topic involves measures to reduce carbon emissions and improve the energy efficiency of new homes, aligning with net zero carbon targets by 2050.
What steps is he taking to (a) reduce carbon emissions and (b) improve energy efficiency in new homes? British architects such as Bill Dunster are building competitively priced, zero energy bill homes today that not only emit no carbon emissions but are massively helpful to poorer families. So what will the Government do to push our oligopolistic and rather luddite house builders to start building the houses of tomorrow, not of yesterday?
Homes account for about a fifth of emissions. Driving these down and improving energy efficiency are crucial to fulfilling our commitments to net zero carbon by 2050. We have committed to introducing a future homes standard by 2025, and we will respond shortly to the 3,000 or so responses to our consultation—which closed on 7 February—which proposes carbon emissions at least 75% lower from 2025. Our recent consultation proposes a new householder affordability rating to measure a building's efficiency and ensure it is affordable to heat. I am conscious that Mr Dunster has an opportunity at the Victoria & Albert Museum at the moment, and I am very happy to visit his ZEDfactory in Watford because I agree with my hon. Friend that we do need new, innovative small and medium-sized enterprises in the marketplace to drive variety in our housing market to improve the absorption rate.
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