In the fall, the British government will present new rules that will force the promoters to equip the vast majority of new houses in England with solar panels. “” It’s just common sense “Said the Minister of Energy, Ed Miliband, to the BBC. According to him, this obligation will allow a home to save up to 500 pounds (around € 590) per year on its energy bill.
Solar everywhere in the new
The requirement will appear within the framework of the Future Homes Standard, a set of new standards intended to improve the energy efficiency of housing and to reduce carbon emissions. A transition period is planned to give manufacturers time to adapt.
If some buildings will benefit from exemptions – for example when they are strongly shaded – the government’s guideline is clear: Ed Miliband wants new houses to be ” almost all »Equipped with solar panels. “” Even if a manufacturer cannot reach 40 % coverage (as provided for in a proposal from the former conservative government), it will still have to install panels. Except in very exceptional cases. »
Currently, the legislation does not constitute manufacturers to equip new solar housing. A gap that the new government intends to fill.
The announcement was rather well received by players in the sector. The Home Builders Federation recognizes that ” Two new in five houses “Already incorporate solar panels, and that the industry” gets used more and more ». The organization, however, calls for avoiding ” Administrative heaviness “Which could slow down the ambitious objective of building 1.5 million dwellings by 2029.” If each house must be subject to an exemption request, it will slow down delivery. ».
The professional organization Solar Energy UK considers that the application of the rule will be ” Quite easy to enforce ». About 90 % of new constructions should be affected. However, that the sector will have to train more labor to follow the rate.
The United Kingdom has embarked on a set of measures to decarbonize the residential sector, which represented 20 % of greenhouse gas emissions from the country in 2022. The country has committed to reaching carbon neutrality by 2050, in accordance with the Paris Accords. An objective that the British climate advisory committee considers out of reach without an almost total decarbonation of the housing stock.
Despite production records this year, solar is still far behind other sources such as gas or wind. But for Ed Miliband, the objective is to make solar an essential component of future housing.
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