Code for Sustainable Homes

Sponge sends a regular email for their 'network of young professionals with sharing an interest in sustainable development and the build environment'

They recently held a debate at the House of Lords about the Governments fluid plans on the environment. As has been reported many times on these very pages, the government continues to dither in its attempts to interpret its requirements for zero carbon housing

The main point of debate that was concluded was the "house believes that off-site renewables have an essential role in delivering the Government’s zero carbon building targets”.

The comments below best illustrate the need and desire of the representatives of the industry.

Jon Lovell, head of Sustainability at Drivers Jonas, commented afterwards: “If we are to have any chance of genuinely delivering low and zero-carbon buildings over the next decade, Government and the building industry need to work together closely, but that collaboration must be founded on a sensible and consistent approach by Government which does not disenfranchise those who will be central to the realisation of the zero-carbon vision.“In recent months Government has been backwards and forwards with its definition of zero-carbon building, which serves only to evoke frustration and confusion within the industry. Even now, despite Treasury’s recent ruling on what will qualify for stamp duty exemption within the residential sector and the subsequent changes that have been made to the Code for Sustainable Homes, there are signs that we haven’t yet reached a final conclusion on this issue.

The Green Building Council will now try running with this batten