The role of sustainable building and associated products and services in meeting the UK’s climate change mitigation obligations has increased considerably compared to earlier greater emphasis on industrial measures and will continue do so for some time yet, reveals Defra’s annual report to Parliament on the UK Climate Change Programme*. Dr Paul K Hatchwell tracks the rapidly changing scene
The report, produced in response to new duties to Parliament under s.2 of the Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Act 2006, confirms that, in common with all economic sectors other than transport and exports, end user residential CO2 emissions have fallen slightly in recent years, from 168.3mtCO2e in 1990 to 155.4 in 2006, peaking at 178.2 in 1991.
However, the report also finds that by 2005, residential sector end use emissions amounted to 23.8% of the UK total, compared to 21.7% in 1990, influenced by larger falls in agriculture and most other commercial sectors over the same period, highlighting the urgent need for action in the former.
Widening range
Since early 2006, a wide range of increasingly cross-linked UK and EU policy measures have impacted directly or indirectly on the sustainable building market in the UK.
One of the most directly significant Government measures has been the launch of the Code for Sustainable Homes by DCLG in December, 2006, setting voluntary standards, including on energy efficiency, “beyond those required by the Building Regulations, for the sustainable design and construction of new homes”.
It came into effect in April 2007 with publication of technical guidance on compliance, with consultation on its mandatory application for new homes to be completed by Autumn 2007.
The CSH parallels the highly significant Zero Carbon Homes proposal, also announced by DCLG in December, 2006, aiming at zero carbon status for all new homes in England by 2016 (see SN piece). A policy statement, including timetable for implementation, was published in July, 2007. It includes interim steps for progressive tightening of energy efficiency regulations contained in the Building Regulations, by 25% by 2010 and 44% by 2013.
Another measure likely to have a major impact on the construction market and behaviour of users, both directly and indirectly has been the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.
This initially came into effect in August 2007, following prolonged controversy (see SN piece), via Home Information Packs initially for four bedroom homes for sale, part of the phased roll-out of Energy Performance Certificates (EPC).
However, the impact will widen in Autumn 2007 as consultation on widening display certification requirements begins, followed by the introduction of EPCs on commercial buildings and Display Certificates on larger public buildings from April 2008.
Demand side measures
A wide range of demand-side and technical measures have been or are being introduced to reduce emissions. A key measure is the Carbon Emission Reduction Target (CERT), 2008-11, introduced by Defra. From March 2006, the UKCCP announced the target for suppliers was increased by a further 50% to 100% per cent for the third phase of the Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC3), to run for three years from April 2008, delivering estimated additional savings of 4mtCO2/year by March, 2011. A consultation on a doubling of the level of activity of EEC3 (now known as CERT) compared to EEC2 (2005-8) and on extending its scope to include microgeneration and other energy reduction measures in addition to energy efficiency was launched alongside the Energy White Paper, with a view to coming into force by April 2008.
In May 2007, the EWP reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to maintain an obligation on energy suppliers equivalent or more stringent than CERT at least until 2020, saving an estimated 12.8mtCO2 annually by 2020. With a view to firm proposals by 2008, a Call for Evidence on a Supplier Obligation post-2011 and stakeholder workshops were launched in June, 2007.
The Energy End-Use Efficiency and Energy Services Directive will also have important indirect impacts on the sustainable building market. The first Energy Efficiency Action Plan was submitted to the European Commission in June 2007, while an initial consultation on obligations on energy suppliers/distributors and final consultation on billing and metering continues until October 2007.
Regulations to implement the Directive will be under preparation or in force by March-May 2008.
Smarter metering
The 2007 Energy White Paper proposed to mandate addition of comparative historic energy consumption data to domestic energy bills from May 2008, with advanced meters proposed for SMEs within five years, and foresaw smart meters for households within 10 years. The EWP also committed to energy suppliers providing real-time electricity displays for all electricity meter replacements and new installations in households from May, 2008. A £10m two-year trial involving 40,000 households to test smart technologies was launched in July, 2007, while consultations on EWP metering and billing proposals continues until October, 2007.
Microgeneration boost
A measure of growing importance to commercial and increasingly residential buildings has been the Government’s Microgeneration Strategy, published in April 2006, coupled with an £86m grant programme through the Low Carbon Buildings Programme announced the same month. The CSH also encourages use of microgeneration in publicly funded new-build homes, while two other measures in early 2007 are aimed at boosting take-up, including the Consultation on proposed changes to Permitted Development Rights “to make it easier for householders to install microgeneration technologies”, and the UK Microgeneration Certification Scheme, “providing consumers with independent certification of products and services and a complaints procedure”, the report notes. These measures were followed by an Energy Measures Report in August 2007, informing Local Authorities of possible microgeneration measures, with new research into current and future potential, drivers and barriers due by the Spring of 2008.
CHP
An area of potentially very large importance to sustainable building projects, particularly those envisaged on a large scale, is the need for far more support and rapid installation of Combined Heat and Power Capacity. CHP has been largely neglected in the UK in comparison with interest in renewables and other sources of generation.
In May 2007, the EWP “reiterated our intention to continue to promote CHP and commitment to our target of achieving at least 10GW of Good Quality CHP capacity by 2010”, says the report. It adds that “due in the main to adverse market conditions in recent years, we are only just over halfway towards the target, with over 5.5GW of installed capacity by the end of 2005”. During February-May 2007, the CHP Quality Assurance (CHPQA) programme management contract was re-let, and in August-September of 2007 the revised CHPQA standard is due to be published. A review of the CHP Strategy is due to be submitted for ministerial approval by October, 2007.
Direct action
Defra has committed since June 2006 to sustainable operations targets for Government estate, including 30% reductions in carbon emissions in its offices by 2020, and carbon neutrality by 2012. Commitment to a Sustainable Procurement Action Plan followed in March, 2007, with the aim of becoming an EU leader in green procurement, and promoting sustainable office operations overall. The EWP confirmed in May “ongoing commitment for the Government Estate to only procure buildings in the top quartile of energy performance”, the report says.
In addition, a £100m energy efficiency fund was announced in January, 2007, and in April an additional £110m was committed for 2008-2011 “for all new and refurbished schools to be low carbon, with some being carbon neutral”, the report says, though both contributions have been criticized as minimal.
A Sustainable Development in Government Report 2007 by the Sustainable Development Commission is also due out in December 2007.
Climate policy measures affecting sustainable building (2006-):
Zero Carbon Homes (DCLG)
Code for Sustainable Homes (DCLG)
Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (DCLG)
Carbon Emission Reduction Target: 2008-2011 (Defra)
Supplier Obligation post-2011 (Defra)
Microgeneration Strategy and associated measures
Energy End-Use Effi ciency and Energy Services Directive (BERR/Defra)
Metering and billing improvements (BERR/Defra)
Raising product standards (Defra)
Planning Policy Statement (PPS) on climate change (DCLG)
Sustainable Operations in Government (Defra)
NHS and Schools construction and operation (DoH and DCSF)
Planning for change
Another DCLG strategic measure that will impact deeply on the sustainable building market in the medium to long term is the forthcoming Planning Policy Statement (PPS) on climate change, announced in March 2006. The PPS consultation draft of December 2006 sets out how “new homes, jobs and infrastructure needed by communities – should help shape places with lower carbon emissions and resilient to the impacts of climate change now accepted as inevitable”, says the report. The final PPS is due for publication in late 2007.
Other measures with implications for sustainable building include consultations over improvement in performance
of energy-using products over the next
10-20 years, committed to in the EWP, expected EC proposals in early 2008 for an updated Framework Directive on energy labelling of household appliances, and probable EC agreement on implementing measures for minimum energy efficiency standards, for 14 priority products under the Framework Directive for ecodesign of energy using products.
*UK Climate Change Programme: Annual Report to Parliament, Defra, July 2007
www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/uk/ukccp/pdf/ukcc-annrpt-07.pdf