Introduction to Low Carbon Development
Climate change is the most important environmental and humanitarian crisis the planet has yet faced. The UK Climate Change Act of 2008 sets an ambitious but necessary target of 80 per cent reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 2050. Buildings account for approximately 40 per cent of the UK's CO2 emissions (split fairly evenly between domestic and non-domestic buildings) so tackling emission form buildings is essential to meet the 80 per cent reduction target. Planning and building control together are setting out an increasingly powerful framework to reduce emissions in new developments with a longer term aim for all new residential developments to be ‘zero carbon' by 2016, with non-residential buildings following in 2019. Low carbon developments are those that achieve deep cuts in emissions through energy efficiency and low and zero carbon technologies, thereby addressing climate change.
Low carbon developments can also mitigate energy cost and security concerns. Prices are volatile and in the long term expected to go up. Low carbon housing developments can therefore safeguard occupants against fuel poverty, and the worst effects of disruptions to energy supplies as we import more oil and gas.
28,000 new homes a year are planned for the SW region giving the potential for large emission reductions and significant opportunities for the south west's sustainable energy businesses.
