The challenge of Zero Carbon

Current market conditions, significant funding cuts, plus the zero carbon and localism agendas and changing regulations mean significant challenges for public sector construction. That is why the National House-Building Council (NHBC) is working with local authorities, housing associations and housebuilders alike, supporting them to build sustainable homes for the future, while at the same time maintaining high standards for homeowners and tenants.

The future of affordable homes is high on the Government’s agenda. Though new build volumes are low, the Housing Minister has unveiled incentives for local house building in the shape of the New Homes Bonus. This bonus, worth almost £1 billion over four years for local authorities and communities, will favour affordable homes.

However, as we seek to increase the level of house building, the pressure to reach green goals remains. As the key name for raising standards and consumer protection for newly-built homes in the UK, NHBC has been working to address the increasing regulatory requirements for private and affordable homes, as well as consumer awareness of the benefits of a more sustainable housing stock.

Speaking at NHBC’s annual lunch in November 2010, Housing Minister Grant Shapps chose to stop proposed new standards for affordable housing and talked of reducing the regulatory red tape and the “unnecessary requirement” for differing standards between homes built on public or private land, asking the industry’s leaders to review requirements. To support changes to the national planning framework, NHBC is working closely with the government on the Local Standards Framework, looking at building standards and how they might be applied locally while maintaining consistent high standards nationally.

Late in 2010, building regulations saw a step change for Part L energy requirements, with another planned for 2013 as part of the road map to zero carbon homes from 2016. An update to the Code for Sustainable Homes was launched around the same time. To help developers and housing associations achieve these tougher requirements, NHBC sustainability and energy rating consultants provide assessments and expert advice on achieving compliance in a costeffective manner.

Yet the biggest challenge remains in convincing homeowners that investment in sustainability is desirable and practical. The NHBC Foundation – the organisation set up to provide research and guidance to support house builders – tackled this particular issue head-on at the start of the year, with a debate held to mark its fifth anniversary.

The debate focused on the future of sustainable development with key panellists Communities Minister Andrew Stunell OBE, and Hazel Grove MP; Tom Dacey from Southern Housing Group; Paul Morrell OBE, Chief Construction Advisor to the Government; and Mark Clare from Barratt Developments. The debate covered a wide range of issues, but one issue quickly became clear; winning hearts and minds of homeowners is a crucial step in ensuring a sustainable future and there is a critical need for wider engagement with homeowners to educate and sell low carbon lifestyles.

The panel agreed that homeowners must not be guinea pigs for unproven technologies that could quickly age or seem too complicated to use. They also felt that existing and planned incentives may fall short of truly convincing homeowners to adopt sustainable technology. While the next generation of green properties could reduce future utility bills by up to £2,250 per year (source: CLG), the panel also felt that more must be done to demonstrate these significant advantages in a tangible way to the end user.

Similarly, speaking at the Zero Carbon Hub annual conference in February, Grant Shapps encouraged the sector to explore how the current Green Deal proposals could work for new builds in a way that is fair and practicable for developers and home buyers alike.

The vision of a sustainable future for new homes is clearly not without its challenges, possibly even more so in affordable housing. As red tape surrounding building standards is addressed and the Code for Sustainable Homes is updated to align with building regulations, progress will be made. Yet inevitably, local authorities and developers, architects and planners alike have questions and need advice.

Equally, as we move towards 2016, one key aspect that must not be overlooked is the continued need for consumer protection. NHBC’s presence and work will remain crucial, as it advises builders on technical advancements and maintains construction standards that provide protection for everyone living in new homes in the UK.

NHBC: the development partner
Founded 75 years ago, NHBC helps builders, housing associations and local authorities to manage development risk and currently protects 1.6 million homeowners and landlords. Regular inspections for new home warranty and building control reduce defects and provide nationwide consistency, while technical and management training improve quality.

NHBC services also assist throughout the development process, starting withmarket appraisal reports and geotechnical and environmental advice for landowners. Sustainability reports support planning and building control, while health & safety and training services support construction alongside energy ratings and pre-completion sound and air leakage testing.

The NHBC Foundation was established by NHBC in partnership with the BRE Trust to facilitate research and development, technology and knowledge sharing, and the capture of industry best practice in the pursuit of improved building standards for the new-build housing sector.

The Zero Carbon Hub was established in 2008 to support the mainstream delivery of zero carbon homes from 2016. The Hub receives both financial and non-financial support from NHBC including seconded staff, and research funding from the NHBC Foundation.