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On Friday 10 July 2015, the UK government announced that it “does not intend to proceed with the zero carbon 'Allowable Solutions' carbon offsetting scheme, or the proposed 2016 increase in on- site energy efficiency standards. This flies directly in the face of clear commitments that a previous (Labour) government had given to the industry when asking for its support for phased improvements to Building Regulations in 2010, 2013 and 2016.
UK-GBC has been a strong supporter of the zero carbon new buildings policies since its inception and has played a key role in their introduction and development over the last eight years. UK-GBC can see absolutely no justification for the removal of these policies at this late stage.
Under the circumstances of the recent decision, the UK-GBC has put together an eight point position statement (see link below for full details) which outlines their argument against the 'Fixing the Foundations Productivity Plan' report.
1. The industry has already made significant investment.
2. The technologies are available to deliver zero carbon buildings.
3. Zero carbon standards do not need to limit housing supply or growth of the construction sector.
4. Government is massively undermining investment in the green economy.
5. The zero carbon policy making process has been held up as an example of excellent practice.
6. Failure to deliver the zero carbon buildings policies leaves an even greater gap between the policies in place and the activity necessary to meet the fourth carbon budget.
7. The removal of the national zero carbon standards creates huge uncertainty about the status of local policy and a potential multiplicity of standards across the UK.
8. ‘Nearly zero energy buildings’ will not necessarily drive significantly better UK standards.
For their part, concluded Simmonds, the AECB "are currently looking into other ways that AECB members can lobby the Government about the policy U-turn."
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