Plans for new Welsh homes to be powered by clean energy
AMBITIOUS new plans aimed at heating and powering all new homes from clean energy sources alone by 2025 have been published by the Welsh Government.
The consultation proposals were unveiled today by Housing Minister Julie James as part of a wider programme to address the climate emergency declared last year.
In several months’ time, ministers will bring forward legislation to adopt a 95% greenhouse gas reduction target, with an ambition to reach net zero in future.
Housing contributes significantly to climate change, with new and existing homes currently accounting for 9% of Welsh greenhouse gas emissions.
The amount of energy used in buildings will have to be significantly lower, while the remaining energy demand will need to be delivered through lowcarbon and renewable sources.
To address this, the Welsh Government is proposing the introduction of tough new standards on new homes, to be implemented in stages over the next five years.
The proposals include: Improved energy efficiency from 2020 which will lead to a 37% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from new dwellings compared with current standards, and save homeowners £180 a year on energy bills, based on a semi-detached house;
All new homes will need to be future-proofed, to make it easier to retrofit low-carbon heating systems;
Phasing out the use of high-carbon fossil fuels and moving to cleaner ways to heat homes through the introduction of low-carbon heating and energy generation, such as renewable energy sources (photovoltaic panels), heat pumps or district heat networks, which involve heating and hot water to multiple buildings from a central heat source;
Improving energy efficiency by introducing measures that limit heat loss and reduce the demand for heat, such as triple-glazing and higher-standard fabrics for walls, roofs, floors, and windows; and
Improving air quality in buildings to help ensure people’s physical wellbeing is maximised.
According to the Welsh Government, when new building standards are implemented in full in 2025, homes should produce 75%-80% less carbon dioxide emissions than ones built to current requirements.
Ms James said: “If we are to meet our ambitious target of reducing our greenhouse gas emissions by 95% by 2050, we need to take action now to make a significant step-change to the way we heat and power our homes.
“The new homes being built today will exist in 2050. Therefore, we must ensure the standards we set for these homes put us on the right path.
“The proposed consultation, for implementation over the next five years, makes a strong and meaningful contribution to reducing the carbon and energy impact of new homes, while recognising that our ambition needs to be balanced against the desire for standards to be cost-effective, affordable and practical.
“These measures will not only help tackle climate change, but they will also help keep down household energy costs now and in the future – helping people, no matter what their background or circumstances, with the cost of living.”
Consultation on the proposals runs until March 12.
The Welsh Government intends to consult separately on standards when building work is carried out in existing dwellings, and new and existing non-domestic buildings, with a view to uplifting the relevant standards affecting them.