Article for Sustainable Building Magazine
Date: 30 September 2010

Relaxing of zero carbon criteria
Sunil Shah (Sustainability Partner), DPP

Support behind the zero carbon ambition was one of the few unequivocal areas of the coalition Government as it came into power earlier this year.

Housing and local government minister Grant Shapps proudly announced that he would draw a line under the sand and commit to a definition ‘within days’. Within the first week David Cameron had re-stated his desire to achieve zero carbon within the same time limits as the previous administration - 2016 for new housing initially, leading to all new build by 2019.

Over the past few months the lobbying to simplify achieving or even remove the zero carbon requirement, has grown to the recent stage where views will be taken to relax criteria surrounding achieving the onsite contribution - very much where we were 12 months ago.

This lack of a clear decision-making path is further damaging the ability of the industry to focus upon what is necessary and to provide the much needed innovation to deliver such zero carbon buildings for a realistic cost.

The onsite / offsite argument is a moot discussion. As long as the UK can demonstrate a reduction in CO2 emissions, whether located in offshore wind farms or through numerous PV and solar thermal units on buildings, shouldn’t blind us from the overall aim of carbon reduction. This is not only to meet with the various legal responsibilities linked with the Renewable Energy Directive or Climate Change Act, but to provide a level of energy security.

Aside from the subjective issues of aesthetics and visual impact, we have the real issue of skills. There is a growing evidence base that many domestic and commercial properties are failing to come close to the carbon efficiency levels promoted through the design calculations.

Once in operation, there is no enforcement to ensure that the design meets the performance and whether the necessary target has been met, particularly as the building regulations are to be utilised as the main driving force.

The starting point should be to promote energy efficiency within the design, but the removal of the recent planning regulations has led to the back ending of energy efficiency as part of the detailed design requirements – once the scheme has already been agreed. This will effectively mean retrofitting renewable or low carbon technologies onto the design adding cost, time and lack of patience to the project.

This all leads back to simplifying the way to achieve zero carbon. For example, by making a payment to the council whilst designing a standard building helps meet nobody’s aspiration or provides the necessary impetus. Culture change is necessary to reduce energy consumption or innovation in the industry.

Sunil Shah is a Sustainability Partner in the London office of independent planning consultants DPP and Chair of the Carbon and Environment Management Group at EIC.  For more information visit www.sustainable-build.com