House-builders want clear meaning for zero carbon homes

摘要

A cross-party group of MPs has called on the government to make up its mind over the definition of "zero carbon" houses. The government has decreed that by 2016 all new homes will be zero carbon. But there is still confusion over what the term actually means. A strict interpretation would require all homes built after 2016 to produce all their own energy. A less rigid mean- ing might see them allowed to use electricity generated off-site from renewable sources. Now 35 MPs, led by Andrew Stunell, Liberal Democrat MP for Hazel Grove, have signed an early day motion urging the government to define the meaning sooner rather than later. The motion says it is "imperative" that a uniform definition of what constitutes zero carbon, specifically with regard to the source of heat and power generation, is made as soon as possible. It adds that a final decision needs to be made before 2009, so the building industry can start preparing for the 2016 deadline.