The amendments are expected to make homes 25% more energy efficient, saving householders £100 a year on their heating bills, and are also expected to save around 2 million tonnes of carbon every year by 2020. The changes to building regulations will come into force in October, giving builders six months to prepare.
The measures include practical steps that builders can take to make buildings greener, while at the same time ensuring that more efficient, air-tight homes and offices are sufficiently ventilated. Homeowners choose to extend or renovate their homes will need to use more energy efficient windows and boilers, and new homes will also need to be more water efficient, with a new requirement for carbon monoxide alarms whenever solid fuel combustion appliances are installed, the government said.
The standards are expected to help to deliver real carbon savings without creating obstacles for house builders during the economic recovery. John Healey, housing and planning minister, said: "The higher green standards we're bringing in this year will cut emissions and play a crucial part in achieving our zero carbon policies. They will also make homes and businesses cheaper to heat and run.
"Nearly half the UK's carbon emissions come from our buildings. But more than one in three of the buildings we'll be working in and living in by 2050 have not yet been built, so action now can make a real difference in the future. We must all adapt to ensure that we cut carbon emissions where we can. While we must act to reduce carbon emissions, we must do so in sensible stages to avoid unreasonable burdens on the house building industry."
