Info!
UPDATED 1 Sept: The EI library in London is temporarily closed to the public, as a precautionary measure in light of the ongoing COVID-19 situation. The Knowledge Service will still be answering email queries via email , or via live chats during working hours (09:15-17:00 GMT). Our e-library is always open for members here: eLibrary , for full-text access to over 200 e-books and millions of articles. Thank you for your patience.
New Energy World magazine logo
New Energy World magazine logo
ISSN 2753-7757 (Online)

Mixed picture for carbon-cutting action in UK buildings

29/6/2022

6 min read

Close up of air-to-heat pump on outside wall of building Photo: Shutterstock
Air-to-air heat pumps are seen as possibly the main heating technology to replace gas-fired boilers in UK homes and buildings

Photo: Shutterstock

Government support for efforts to reduce the amount of energy used in UK buildings is unimpressive, particularly measures to improve performance of the building fabric. But there are some schemes to support low carbon heating technologies, reports Andrew Mourant.

There’s never any lack of government announcements about schemes to tackle climate change. More have surfaced recently and, at face value, there are things to applaud, for instance grants to householders encouraging them to ditch gas boilers and invest in heat pumps.

 

Moreover – and long overdue – are regulations that came into force his month (June 2022) aimed at developers. In future they must ensure CO2 emissions from newbuild homes are 31% lower than current standards while those from other buildings, such as offices and shops, must be 27% below.

 

The rules relate to planning applications made on or after 15 June 2022, but not to those beforehand if ‘substantial’ building work begins before 15 June 2023. They are, in effect, a stopgap to improve things before 2025 when the Future Homes and Buildings Standards will require more significant cuts to carbon emissions.

 

This content is for EI members only.
or join us as an EI Member to read all our Feature articles and receive exclusive EI perks from as little as £6 a month.