25
A recent CNN article (Are zero carbon homes a lot of hot air?) discusses the relative merits of zero carbon homes and whether the UK will be able to reach its green building goals. Given the UK’s commitment to making all new homes zero carbon by 2016, the question is an important and highly relevant one. The UK’s targets for reducing the greenhouse gas emissions associated with homes (currently residential buildings contribute 26% to UK’s carbon dioxide emissions) are probably the most stringent in the world. But some are questioning whether the carbon limits are achievable. So what are the benefits of zero carbon homes? Here are a few major ones:
- Zero carbon homes are designed to produce renewable energy (solar, wind, geothermal) either on site or through offsite renewables, thereby reducing the home’s net carbon to zero to minimize the impact on climate change;
- Zero carbon homes employ a myriad of energy efficiency techniques (insulation, passive solar designs, daylighting, energy efficient appliances, and so on) which further shrink the amount of energy consumed domestically;
- Zero carbon homes use less energy than they generate, which will save the consumer in energy costs and reduce the load on public energy grids.
The article raises doubt about the viability of zero carbon homes, considering that since 2007 only 25 proper zero carbon homes have been built. However, when you consider that Zero Carbon Compliance will not come into effect for another five years, the fact that there are not more of these homes built now – in advance of the legislation – should hardly be a surprise, or a sign that the law has failed in some way. After all, it is difficult for a law to be deemed a failure beforeit comes into effect. Our view at Sefaira is that such limits are required to encourage the industry to push boundaries and use their innovative capabilities to achieve standards we know are possible. Sure it will take hard work and a lot of thoughtful consideration to develop standards that are both stringent and achievable, but the opportunities are tremendous. As the USGBC recently pointed out, greener homes and commercial spaces, when built and retrofitted for efficiency, can cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30% at no net cost. To ignore such potential (and the devastating consequences if ignored) would be folly.
