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The pressure
on building Green Low Energy Homes is set to increase
and consultation is now taking place on new Building
Regulations for the period up to 2013 which will
significantly reduce the carbon footprint of new
homes. For more information on this visit the Government's
Planning Portal. In April 2007 the 'Code
for Sustainable Homes' was launched providing a 0-6 star rating.
Any home developer can choose to be assessed
against this code which may become a mandatory
requirement in future.
Renewable & Green Energy Systems is now a major section of
this website. The UK Government and others are
expected to initiate major energy saving and greening
policies within 2008 leading to very aggressive
targets for green energy supply (15-20% of UK requirements
by 2020). The UN has also begun a major political
offensive to encourage all countries to do more
to stave off global warming which is now thought
to be inevitable.
The UK Government's Low
Carbon Building Programme was launched in April 2006 to replace
the earlier DTI Clear Skies and Solar PV grant schemes. The
DTI say "The programme will demonstrate how energy efficiency
and microgeneration can work hand in hand to create low carbon
buildings". The first phase of the programme covering private
householders and business is being managed by the Energy
Saving Trust. The second phase of the programme is being
managed by BRE.
A range of microgeneration technologies
has been included in this programme including:
This section of the masterbuildersonline
website is now being developed to cover these technologies
as well as energy management and insulation methods in buildings.
It will also link to suppliers in our directory who are using
new energy technology such as solar
power and wind
power.
This section is
covered by Part
F (Ventilation), Part
J (Combustion appliances and fuel storage), and Part
L of the Building Regulations. Part L1 deals
with new dwelling houses and Part L2 deals
with new buildings other than dwellings. These Regulations
were amended in 2006 .
It is now a requirement,
for example, to have replacement windows and external doors
replaced by an accredited installer who ensures compliance
with the energy saving policies embedded in these regulations.
Local Planners have authority to require remedial works
if new installations do not comply.
Look at our sections on Heating and Air Conditioning.
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