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New Green Deal Proposals
The Green Deal may soon have new efficiency standards tied in, if government proposals go through. Andrew Stunell, the Liberal Democrat communities minister, call them a ‘bedrock of regulation,’ which he hopes will affect all UK building projects. 200,000 new homes on the Green Deal list The proposals would mean properties under renovation or being extended being subject to the same eco requirements as new builds signed up to the Green Deal, and could come into law as early as October 2012. It is thought that 200,000 homes and businesses may have to adopt greener practises such as insulation as part of the government’s drive to “revolutionise the energy efficiency of British property”. More Green, Less Red The plans are also billed as being instrumental in cutting red tape, because in theory they will set the UK in motion towards this greener energy profile that Mr. Stunell is aiming for. Those who support the Green Deal proposals are also claiming they will save businesses over £63m, presumably in the form of architecture where heating and other overheads are made more efficient. Those who oppose the plans are cynical because they feel the government’s proposals are simply to make the Green Deal look more popular than it really is. The phrase being used is ‘consequential’ improvements, which in reality means that any structural work at all would be green-lit only on the condition that the property owner signs up to the Green Deal. The Figures It remains to be seen whether these new proposals mean energy users have to smarten up entirely. Last year’s Plan For Growth was also billed as a significant document – albeit by the government who wrote it – but it was criticised for specifying only the carbon emissions that can be categorised under building regulations. George Osborn’s Plan For Growth meant that plug –in appliances didn’t have to be accounted for at all, which irritated The Green Building Council (GBC) and others. Unlike the Plan for Growth the latest Green Deal proposals are designed as a foundation for the next few years: for widespread zero-carbon homes by 2016, and equivalent plans for businesses by 2019. If you break them down, the plans have been built on numbers. To save 8% of the carbon used in 2010, the annual target for flats and medium sized terrace houses is 39kWh per square metre, and 46kWh for detached and semi-detaches houses. The emphasis is on energy usage, not carbon footprint. Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com The Eco Experts is a free service for people interested in sustainable living. If you're looking for solar panels, insulation, or other green technology, we can help you find advice and the best value for money. We only work with trusted, accredited suppliers. We are free to use – we don’t charge you a penny - and there is no obligation to buy from anyone on our network. For information and a free quote: / www.theecoexperts.co.uk / @theecoexperts / |
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