Calling all house builders... survey on low and zero carbon technologies

The NHBC Foundation and Zero Carbon Hub have launched a survey that will assess which low carbon and zero carbon technologies are being used in new houses and the reasons for choosing them.

The survey forms part of research being conducted by both organisations in association with the University of Reading with the aim of better understanding how zero carbon homes will be produced between now and 2016.

The results will be used to inform external audiences, especially the Government, about the specific technologies house builders are using and why. Ultimately, this research will help in the development of all future initiatives designed to address challenges associated with narrowing the gap between the performances of housing design and the actual built version.

For the research to be a true reflection of the current state of the house building industry, we would encourage as many house builders as possible to complete this survey. Those who get involved will be granted access to the final results and will be given the opportunity to have an LZ profile, created about one of their projects. LZ profiles describe successful low carbon housing solutions and are uploaded on to the Zero Carbon Website. On completion of the survey, there is also the option to enter a prize draw to win an ipad!

Follow the link below to access the online survey. It will take around 20 minutes to complete the questionnaire. https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WQ39LZW

Future thinking – Best Practice for Feed-in-Tariffs

Feed-in Tariffs provide incentives to both the domestic and commercial sectors. The UK Government recently reduced the scope of subsidies available through FITs, which looks likely to impact organisations that have set up renewables schemes.

However, FITs remain an interesting opportunity for house builders, the wider house building industry and consumers who want to lower the carbon footprint of UK homes. The NHBC Foundation recently identified a gap in the knowledge amongst these interest groups of the economic, environmental and social benefits FITs schemes can offer. In response to this, the Foundation has developed an essential guide named Introduction to Feed-in Tariffs.

FITs offer financial incentives to encourage investment in small-scale renewable energy technologies. This not only offsets the costs of installing sustainable technology, but can help generate future income through selling any surplus energy generated. The NHBC Foundation guide helps build an understanding of the financial incentives provided by FITs and the practicalities of installing various renewable technologies.

With the Localism Bill set to come in to play, a thorough understanding of the potential benefits of FITs is certainly important. Wider knowledge of these incentives will help build the necessary consensus amongst local authorities and community interest groups to approve the development of renewable technology under the new Bill.

Learning by example: Germany

The guide highlights the success of FITs schemes in other countries, particularly Germany where the equivalent Feed-in Law has boosted installation of renewable technology. Since the law came into effect, approximately 33 million tonnes of carbon dioxide has been saved and more jobs have been created. Now, 76 000 people are employed in the renewables industry in Germany, which contrasts with 57 000 people in the UK.

The UK’s unreliable weather has cast doubt over the potential for solar development in the past. The Guide redresses this concern in its discussion of the success of the solar photovoltaics (PV) energy market in Germany, which now generates 47% of the world’s total PV generated energy. With Germany and the UK occupying similar latitude, the guide shows there is scope for solar in the UK.

Concerns for the future of FITs

Anticipating wider take up of FITs schemes in the near future, the Guide identifies potential challenges to development of renewable technology:

- The UK PV market is heavily dependent on imported components such as inverters
- Training courses for relevant trades, although growing in number, start from a low base
- Planning resistance could add to overall installation costs

More research in to the long term implications of FITs is required to assess the impact of these concerns. In the meantime, the NHBC Foundation Guide provides a useful starting point to anyone considering installing renewable using the FITs scheme.

Low and zero carbon homes - establishing the whole picture

Although building regulations do tackle carbon dioxide emissions head-on, their targets currently relate only to the emissions generated through the use of homes – the operational emissions. They don’t deal with the CO2 that is involved in the manufacture and transportation of building materials, the construction or that from maintenance throughout the life of the building and its ultimate demolition - the embodied CO2 emissions.

Over recent decades, successive revisions to regulations have increasingly tightened targets for operational CO2 and that has led to additional materials being used, such as extra insulation. As we head further towards zero carbon, more materials will be utilised along with technologies and systems such as solar thermal, photovoltaic panels, and whole house ventilation systems, which will increasingly be integrated into new homes.

BRE estimates that the historical balance between operational and embodied emissions has been roughly 80:20, but is that balance likely to change as new Building Regulations are introduced which require additional materials, technologies and systems needed to meet energy/emissions targets and the ultimate zero carbon goal?

The NHBC Foundation realised that there is an urgent need to investigate this changing dynamic between operational and embodied CO2 and is working to launch a new project in early 2011 to research the issue: Operational and embodied CO2 in new build housing: a reappraisal.

With Government interest in this issue growing, the results of this project will be vital in equipping the house building industry with essential information to help deal with the future implications of embodied CO2.