The government will introduce new green standards for homes over the next few years.
By 2025 new builds will be expected to produce 75-80% lower carbon emissions compared to current levels.
To ensure the industry is ready to meet the new standards by 2025, new homes will be expected to produce 31% lower carbon emissions from 2021.
Christopher Pincher, housing minister, said: “Improving the energy performance of buildings is vital to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and protecting the environment for future generations to come.
“The radical new standards announced today will not only improve energy efficiency of existing homes and other buildings, but will also ensure our new homes are fit for the future, by reducing emissions from new homes by at least 75%.
“This will help deliver greener homes and buildings, as well as reducing energy bills for hard-working families and businesses.”
Existing homes will also be subject to higher standards – with a significant improvement on the standard for extensions, making homes warmer and reducing bills.
The requirement for replacement, repairs and parts to be more energy efficient.
This includes the replacement of windows and building services such as heat pumps, cooling systems, or fixed lighting.
Nigel Banks, director of specialist projects at ilke Homes, said: “The government’s response to the Future Homes Standard consultation is welcome news, however, the timetable for implementation is too slow, meaning over a million new homes built between now and 2026 will need to be retrofit in the 2030s.
“The government has confirmed its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. ilke Homes has shown the government and the wider industry that homes can be delivered to zero-carbon standards now, in line with the Future Homes Standard and has done so on sites across the UK for the public and private sector clients.
“Our homes are already 20% more efficient than current traditional new builds, lowering emissions and consumer bills. We have proven that energy-efficiency doesn’t have to come at extra costs to the consumers.”
