Christmas Greeting
from Neil Jefferson
Welcome to the December edition of the Zero Carbon Hub E-news letter. As we approach the end of our first full year of operation, may I offer warm thanks to all our collaborators and workstream participants who have been central to the successful delivery of an extensive programme of work.
The timely submission of the Fabric Energy Efficiency Standard in November has been perhaps our most notable milestone. However I also want to acknowledge fully the valuable, strategic work that has been delivered by all the workstreams.
This Christmas the Zero Carbon Hub is supporting CRASH, the construction industry’s charity for homeless people and sending electronic cards. Please find your Christmas card from the Zero Carbon Hub at the following link.
May I wish you all a happy and restful Christmas and look forward to 2010 which we anticipate being a key year on the road to zero carbon.
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Neil Jefferson, Chief Executive Zero Carbon Hub |
New Fabric Energy Efficiency Standard for Zero Carbon Homes
On Tuesday 24th November, John Healey announced his decision on the minimum standard for the energy efficiency of zero carbon homes.
His decision was strongly informed by the specialist Task Group he asked the Zero Carbon Hub to assemble following his Policy Statement on zero carbon homes earlier in the summer. Members of the Task Group presented the report to the Minister following an intensive period of consideration and consultation and the report is now published.
Presented as a new Fabric Energy Efficiency Standard, the Task Group’s recommendations aim to deliver a high yet practical energy performance level for all new homes. The Standard focuses on the fabric of the home, to secure long lasting benefit for home owners and occupiers, and to ensure that energy efficiency plays a proportionate part in the ultimate delivery of zero carbon homes (figure 1).
Announcing the recommendations, John Healey said that the new standards signalled “real momentum to change and radically re-think how we design our towns and homes for the future.”
Neil Jefferson, Chief Executive, Zero Carbon Hub, said “The Fabric Energy Efficiency Standard is a critically important step towards the delivery of zero carbon homes from 2016. The Group has agreed upon a performance level that it has judged to be stretching and appropriate for mass scale production in the UK”.
The Task Group’s recommendations
The metric
The preferred metric is kWh/m²/yr covering space heating and space cooling energy demand (modelled utilising a notional dwelling, assuming natural ventilation and excluding any internal gains from the domestic hot water system).
The recommended levels
To be responsive to the different proportion of external wall, two levels are proposed. 39 kWh/m²/yr for apartment blocks and mid terrace houses and 46 kWh/m²/yr for semi detached, end of terrace and detached houses. These are illustrated in figure 2.
Figure 2 also highlights detached homes where a slightly higher specification will be needed to meet the target level.
Implementation
The Task Group is recommending full implementation in 2016, with an interim step in 2013.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Copies of the full report and executive summary, together with a podcast, are available at www.zerocarbonhub.org.
For technical enquires please contact the Zero Carbon Hub at info@zerocarbonhub.org
Code for Sustainable Homes Consultation
The Zero Carbon Hub welcomes the inclusion of the extensive work carried out on the ‘Fabric Energy Efficiency Standard’ in the Consultation on the Code for Sustainable Homes announced today. The Code provides the crucial framework for delivery of sustainable homes now and in the future and this consultation is an important opportunity to influence the next stage in its development and cater for a new and improved definition of zero carbon.
Sustainability Now
Zero Carbon Hub contributed towards this years’ Sustainability Now virtual conference. It is not too late to visit our stand. Click here for the Sustainability Now website. Please let us have your views on the value of virtual events such as these, which, for many people, can provide a useful viable alternative to traditional conference/exhibitions.
Introducing Robert Macdonald
Please extend a warm welcome to Robert who has joined the Zero Carbon Hub from the NHBC. Robert will be focusing on communications, especially the development of the Zero Carbon Hub website. Robert joins the ZCH at a busy and exciting time and will be centrally involved in the expansion of our communications activities in 2010.
Skills
The Skills workstream led a well attended workshop on 26th and 27th November which brought together a wide variety of leading industry representatives. The workshop aim was to identify the skills and knowledge needed to deliver zero carbon homes. The approach taken was to build an understanding of the future impacts that would affect the different professions.
The event was run in conjunction with project co-sponsors NHBC and Construction Skills and included a thought provoking speech from Tim Smit – founder of the Eden Project. Results from the delegate participation will help to inform development of an industry consultation on Skills and Training due to be carried out in the first quarter of 2010.
Consumer engagement
The consumer engagement workstream has finalised its report which sets out considerations for generating consumer demand for low and zero carbon homes. This report will be published early in the New Year and sets out a framework for building a more informed understanding of how zero carbon homes can be successfully marketed. Keep an eye on the website for publication of the final report.
Examples
The Miller Zero project was featured, at design stage in our LZ Carbon Profile series. The development is now complete and if you would like a virtual tour of the site including an interview with Tim Hough Chief Executive of Miller Homes please click here.
The Zero Carbon Hub is now actively seeking to promote projects which are targeting the performance levels now proposed for zero carbon homes. Specifically house builders who are keen to build to the energy efficiency standards now being proposed (see above) and working to meet the 70% carbon compliance level proposed by government last summer. If you are planning to develop such projects, or have designs under consideration, please contact Clive Turner at the zero carbon hub on clive.turner@zerocarbonhub.org.
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