Eco Warning Challenge to Housing Sector
Places for People,
a leading UK eco-developer, has warned that new government guidelines to improve
the environmental performance of new-build homes must be applied to all existing
housing if the industry is to tackle the looming threat posed by climate change.
The UK’s largest housing and regeneration group, which is responsible
for nearly 60,000 homes and is piloting a range of renewable technologies in
developments across the UK, welcomed the new guidelines but said that clear
mandatory targets are needed for all types of housing
Nicholas Doyle, project director for sustainability at Places for People said:
“This is a massive step in the right direction and will help planners and
the housing sector rethink the way they design low carbon sustainable homes
and communities.
“Designing environmentally friendly homes is one of the biggest challenges
currently faced by developers and planners with the average home emitting more
than a quarter of all carbon emissions. Yet if we are serious about tackling
the threats and challenges posed by climate change, the government should extend
its guidance and set targets for existing housing."
Places for People – the UK’s largest housing and regeneration group
– is designing and constructing homes that are energy efficient; have traditional
appeal and feature a range of renewable technologies such as solar and geothermal
power. But at the same time, it is also taking steps to ensure to raise the
environmental performance of its extensive existing stock. Last year the group
invested over £17m to modernise and improve 4000 of its properties. It
is also working with customers to inform them of ways which they can reduce
their energy consumption.
At Broughton Square, on the outskirts of Milton Keynes, Places for People has
created a large mixed community that has a range of innovative green features.
In 2005, the £27 million development was awarded an ‘EcoHomes Excellent’
rating, making it one of the largest schemes in the UK to receive the industry’s
gold standard on environmental sustainability.
EcoHome features at Broughton Square include water butts to collect rainwater
from properties for use on gardens, the use of timber from sustainable sources,
provision of onsite recycling facilities and a Sustainable Urban Drainage System
which help reduce the amount of pollutants being washed into rivers. All 229
homes have very high energy efficiency ratings reducing CO2 emissions.
It is also working with residents at Broughton to encourage them to think about
the amount of energy they may be wasting. In a pilot project it has installed
Electrisave meters in people’s homes. This is a simple device which tells
you how much electricity you are using and how much it is costs in pence per
hour. It also shows how much carbon your home is emitting. The project has helped
reduce customers fuel bills by 15 per cent and has changed the way people think
about and use their electricity.
These approaches are being mirrored in Places for People’s work in other
parts of the country. In Sheffield it is piloting the use of solar panels at
Norfolk Park - a mixed tenure development – which is a useful and cost-effective
method of achieving a 10 per cent renewable energy target. The Group is looking
at extending the trial next year.
In Cambridge it is also developing 141 homes for affordable rent and shared
ownership which use ground source heat pumps – an energy efficient heating
and cooling system, to produce not only heat and hot water, but also electricity
for the home.
Posted 15th December 2006
