New homes for eco clear conscience

Chris Coates, Managing Director for Galliford Try Homes, responds to Housing Minister Caroline Flint’s pledge that all new homes will have to be rated against the Code for Sustainable Homes from 1st May 2008.

Chris comments:

“While I commend the Government’s efforts to improve the energy efficiency of our homes, it is across the existing housing stock (which makes up 94% of all housing stock) where the most significant energy savings could be made. New homes are the most energy efficient homes on the market and while ongoing improvements and advancements are necessary to ensure this continues, the renewable technology currently available is still playing catch up with Government’s overly ambitious plans.

“The majority of housebuilders are currently working towards code level three. The Government’s continued reference to zero carbon homes (homes achieving level six) is just not within reach across the board and it is misleading to the public – zero carbon homes are not a realistic target in the current market place.”

Coates adds:

“The motivation for consumers buying a new home which scores highly against the Code for Sustainable Homes, is very much about an eco-clear conscience rather than driven by economic factors. The current technology available in the market place is not sufficient to significantly reduce a home owner’s fuel bills and Government now needs to invest further in these technologies to assist developers in meeting its ambitious targets.”