Summary

The Zero Energy Buildings (ZEB) working group was originally managed and hosted by the Association for the Conservation of Energy (ACE), in late 2016 an offer was made to the Good Homes Alliance and the Solar Trade Association to take it over which was duly accepted. The name was then changed from Nearly Zero Energy Buildings to Zero Energy Buildings working group.

Objectives

The ZEB working group exists to help industry and Government to envision, realise, and plan for new housing as zero energy or net carbon neutral/positive. It will encourage the adoption of zero energy buildings target in UK Regulations. It will also identify effective routes and a trajectory for the delivery of Zero Energy Buildings. The group will build upon the work of previous organisations such as the Zero Carbon Hub.

“All new homes to mitigate, through various measures, all the carbon emissions produced onsite as a result of the regulated energy use. This includes energy used to provide space heating and cooling, hot water and fixed lighting, as outlined in Part L1A of the Building Regulations.” – Zero Carbon Hub definition

The group will maintain pressure on industry and Government to ensure that new housing policy and practice continues to contribute a fair share towards the UK’s carbon emissions reduction targets as set down it the UK Carbon Budgets and embodied in law via the Climate Change Act 2008.

“…..the net UK carbon account for all six Kyoto greenhouse gases for the year 2050 is at least 80% lower than the 1990 baseline…..” – Climate Change Act 2008

The group will bring together a coalition of like minded organisations and will ensure an industry wide voice and solution focussed approach to this topic. The group is also available to act as a contact and support group for relevant research projects and national and local policy development work.

The group will seek to define the benefits of zero energy new homes to consumers and the public.

Output

The outcomes /solutions/recommendations will be developed into an annual and/or end report. The report will be widely disseminated and an active monitoring programme established with an annual update on progress issued. It will include (but
is not limited to):

  • A re-stating of the definition of zero energy buildings, including minimum fabric energy efficiency targets
  • To establish of a set of baselines that progress can be measured against
  • To define a trajectory/route for the industry and Government to achieve and
    deliver zero energy buildings
  • To promote the benefits of zero energy buildings to consumers and the
    public

New homes are defined by this group to include: owner occupied/private rented, social housing, student accommodation and care/extracare homes.

Who’s involved?

The following organisations are committing to represent the sectors on the working
group:

  • Good Homes Alliance (joint chair)
  • Solar Trade Association (joint chair)
  • Sustainable Energy Association
  • AECB
  • Cutland Consulting Ltd
  • UK Green Building Council
  • WWF
  • RIBA
  • REGENSW
  • Energy Saving Trust
  • BioRegional
  • Passivhaus Trust
  • ACE
  • CIBSE

If you are interested in getting involved, please contact us at richard@goodhomes.org.uk.

Zero Energy Buildings

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