Green Houses for the Growth Region

Abstract

The new housing growth programme planned for England and Wales between now and 2016 could provide the government with an opportunity to build housing to significantly higher environmental performance (EP) standards. Equally, if the government continues with its current strategy a great opportunity could be missed. This paper considers and critically analyses the government's approach to ensuring higher EP standards in new housing. Using Greenwich Millennium Village as a case study it assesses the likely outcomes of the approach. It suggests how regulation, fiscal incentives and educational programmes could help to deliver better EP amongst housing and households in the growth region.

Notes

1 The baseline scenario is based on a continuation of current targets taken from regional planning guidance together with additional dwellings associated with Sustainable Communities Plan (an average increase of around 162 000 units per annum).

2 Some facilitate the development of the infrastructure to service environmentally sustainable communities and encourage spatial patterns which reduce travel, increase facilities for waste recycling, enable the use of district heating systems and renewable energy sources (ODPM, 2004), waste (ODPM, 2005b) and transport, (ODPM, 2001). PPS3 (DCLG, 2006a) promotes more efficient use of land, energy and better access to local facilities and public transport in residential development. Residential design guidance (DTLR & CABE, 2001) supports greater energy and land efficiency in new residential development through the consideration of layout, building at higher densities and installing smart technology. More recently the government revised PPS1 (DCLG, 2006b) to tackle greenhouse gas emissions from development. It outlines how the location, siting and design of new development can contribute both to the reduction of emissions and delivery of zero carbon development, and to the shaping of sustainable communities that are resilient to climate change.

3 The Code sets sustainability standards that can be applied to all homes. There are six levels of the Code. At each level there are minimum energy efficiency/carbon emissions and water efficiency standards. The minimum energy/carbon standards for Code level 1 are higher than those found in the minimum mandatory standards set in Building Regulations (Great Britain, 2006). The Code also rewards other environmental considerations, such as sustainable construction materials, and the availability of recycling facilities, cycle spaces and home offices. These and other issues that contribute to a ‘sustainable home’ are awarded ‘credits’ to make up their Code rating. Therefore, the Code will contribute towards a number of environmental objectives, including waste and wider ecology issues.

4 A home meeting level 3 of the Code will have to be 25% more energy efficient than one built to the Building Regulations (Great Britain, 2006) standards; designed to use no more than about 105 litres of water per person per day; use surface water management, use materials with minimum green grade D, have a site waste management plan in place during the home's construction, and adequate space for waste storage during its use. To get to level 3 developers need a further 46.7 points, thus they must do other things to obtain the other points such as: providing drying space (so that tumble dryers need not be used); energy efficient lighting (both internally and externally); cycle storage; a home office; reducing the amount of water than runs off the site into the storm drains; using much more environmentally friendly materials; providing recycling capacity either inside or outside the home; enhancing the security of the home; enhancing the sound insulation used in the home.

5 The development team included staff involved in achieving EP standards, marketing, constructing, operating and maintaining the development.

6 The government definition of a zero carbon home is one with ‘zero net emissions of Carbon Dioxide (CO²) from all energy use in the home’. The definition encompasses all energy use in the home (including energy for cooking, TVs, computers and other appliances) rather than just those energy uses that are currently part of building regulations (space heating, hot water, ventilation and some lighting). It means that over a year there are no net carbon emissions resulting from the operation of the dwelling. This could be achieved either through steps taken at the individual dwelling level or through site wide strategies. So it will not be necessary for each dwelling to have its own microgeneration capacity where development level solutions would be more appropriate (DCLG, 2006d).

7 The ecological footprint is a measure of the area of biologically productive land that is required to meet the needs of a given product, person or population. It compares this area with the actual available area on Earth and informs us whether we are living within the Earth's regenerative capacity (James & Desai, 2003).

8 Based on ENTEC Scenario 1, which is a continuation of current targets taken from regional planning guidance together with additional dwellings associated with the communities plan (an average increase of around 162 000 dwellings per annum).

9 According to calculations made by the Housing Corporation it would cost approximately an extra 2% for a 3-star home.

10 Building Regulations (2002) were used as the benchmark by the developer against which to test the performance of units.

11 Approximately 63% of GMV residents living in phase one of the development are earning more than £50K and 15% more than £100K annually (FRESH, 2003). The development team also indicated that the majority of residents were employed in white-collar jobs although more specific data were confidential (interview with development team).

12 The European Union has already introduced some relevant legislation (e.g. Directive for Eco-design of energy using products—EuP Directive 2005/32/EC) and voluntary agreements to tackle the eco-efficiency of energy using products. It has also introduced labelling systems and minimum standards for a variety of household energy using products. However, more stringent and comprehensive legislation is needed at a national level in England and Wales. It also needs to be expanded to water efficient appliances and building materials. The government has established the Sustainable Design Forum and an advisory committee on consumer products and the environment to begin to research this further.

13 Refer back to the section which showed that achieving a 6-star (zero-carbon rating) would achieve a footprint of 3.405 global hectares per person, still significantly greater than 1.9 global hectares per person which is their fair share.