The upcoming Future Homes Standard will promote the installation of rooftop solar panels.
Under the proposals developers will need solar panels to cover 40% of the building’s floor area, which was originally a target promoted by the previous Conservative government.
The difference is these will be subject to practical limits, as for example targets will be looser if the homes are surrounded by trees and lots of shade, in which case they would only be required to achieve a ‘reasonable’ amount of coverage.
The Future Homes Standard, which is expected to be published in the autumn, will require new homes to produce 75-80% less carbon than homes built under current regulations.
Ed Miliband, energy secretary, said: “Solar panels can save people hundreds of pounds off their energy bills, so it is just common sense for new homes to have them fitted as standard.
“So many people just don’t understand why this doesn’t already happen. With our plans, it will.
Today marks a monumental step in unleashing this rooftop revolution as part of our Plan for Change, and means new homeowners will get lower bills with clean home-grown power.”
A typical existing UK home could save around £530 a year from installing rooftop solar, based on the current energy price cap.
Spencer J. McCarthy, chief executive of Churchill Living, said: “The integration of rooftop solar panels and low carbon heating into new builds, as part of the Future Homes Standard, is a significant development in addressing current energy challenges.
“As an early investor in and adopter of renewable technologies into our developments, we are already helping our owners lower their energy costs while also addressing our energy security goals.
“At the same time, practical considerations such as grid capacity and supply chain constraints need to be addressed to ensure these standards are both effective and achievable at scale. Finding the right balance between innovation and accessibility will be essential for making low-carbon homes a viable option for new homeowners.”
Source : Propertywire
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