Hipmaker

Wave power is an other find of tidal power. This type of power has a graet potential, it could be set up everywhere in the sea, and its cost would be really low.

Tidal power is a form of hydropower that converts the energy of the tides into electicity.

Although not yet widely used, tidal power will be able to represent the future electricity generation. Tidal power derives directly from the relative motion of the Earth-Moon system, and to a lesser extent from the Earth-Sun system. There are two main kind of tidal energy :

• Tidal stream systems make use of the kinetic energy of moving water to power turbines, in a similar way to windmills that use moving air. This method is gaining in popularity because of the lower cost and lower ecological impact compared to barrages.

• Barrages make use of the in the difference in height (or head) between high and low tides. Barrages suffer from very high civil infrastructure costs, a worldwide shortage of viable sites, and environmental issues.

Zero Carbon Homes

We recognise that the 2016 zero carbon homes target set out in Building a Greener Future: policy statement is challenging, so the Department has established the 2016 Taskforce, jointly led by Caroline Flint, Minister for Housing, and Stewart Baseley, Executive Chairman for the Home Builders Federation. The Taskforce is charged with identifying the barriers to implementation of the zero carbon 2016 target and putting in place measures to overcome them.

Heat

Almost half of all UK‘s CO2 emissions arise from the use of heat. That is energy used for space and water heating, industrial process heating, industrial drying and similar purposes. Therefore, if we are to deliver long-term reductions in carbon emissions we have to look at heat.

On 31 January 2008 the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) along with the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and Communities and Local Government published the Heat Call for Evidence. BERR, Defra and Communities and Local Government invites comments on the issues set out in the Call for Evidence (external link). The deadline for responses is 31 March 2008.

This Call for Evidence is an important next step in developing our strategy for heat. The document sets out our understanding of the opportunities and prospects for renewable heat and some of the barriers that prevent the greater use of renewable heat. It asks for views about the technologies available to us – which offer the most efficient and practical contribution to achieving our aim and in which specific scenarios. It seeks views on whether we need new incentives to stimulate the development of renewable heat; what form they might take; and which options provide the most cost-effective solutions.

Planning and Climate Change

On 13 December 2006, the Department launched a consultation on the draft of a new Planning Policy Statement: Planning and Climate Change. The draft PPS sets out how planning, in providing for the new homes, jobs and infrastructure needed by communities, should help shape places with lower carbon emissions and resilient to the climate change now accepted as inevitable. The original consultation, along with a report analysing consultation responses, which showed significant support overall for our proposals, is available at Planning Policy Statement consultation. We will be moving quickly to finalise the PPS, in light of the consultation responses, and the supporting practice guide.

Consumers were satisfied with the Home Information Pack (HIP) and are starting to use energy ratings to make their homes greener, according to early testing of HIPs.

Results from research by Ipsos MORI into the HIP area trials reveal that 72 per cent of sellers were satisfied with the HIP, 79 per cent agreed that it contained everything expected, and 81 per cent understood the documents, including their energy rating, from A-G, in the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).

Nearly one third of buyers on examining the HIP planned to carry out recommendations in the EPC to improve the energy efficiency of their home. This would equate to nearly half a million transactions per year in today’s housing market where consumers took action as a result of the EPC to cut fuel bills and carbon emissions.

The research report highlights that 58 per cent of buyers would have liked the opportunity to see the HIP earlier in the process. However, agents were either not showing the packs or providing them too late to consumers to make a difference, according to the findings. Out of the 40 per cent of buyers who saw the HIP last year in the trials, half viewed it after they made an offer on their property.

The Government has already taken action to raise awareness of HIPs and to remind agents of their responsibility to make sure it is readily available so more people fully benefit from the packs. This includes a public information campaign and specific activity aimed at the industry, including more than 20,000 agents.

Consumers can only benefit if they see the pack. We know the appetite is there because nearly 60 per cent of buyers wanted to see their HIP earlier and 32 per cent planned to take action on examining the EPC – it is important agents respond to this.

Housing Minister Caroline Flint said:

“Consumers are already benefiting from the introduction of HIPs. Search costs are falling as a result of increased transparency in the market, energy ratings can help people to reduce fuel bills, and first time buyers are receiving important information about their home for free.

“I welcome the fact that buyers are starting to act on their energy ratings, which could cut a million tonnes of carbon a year as well as helping families with their fuel costs.

“However, what is clear from the trials is that more buyers wanted to see the HIP but it was not always made available to them. That’s why we have taken action to increase awareness of the consumers’ right to see a HIP and to remind agents of their responsibility to provide the pack.”

The Government has responded to emerging findings throughout the research period which tested around 2,600 HIPs, to help develop the packs and to ensure a smooth implementation into the market. This includes decisions to introduce a first day marketing exemption, temporary measures on leasehold information, and work with industry to make sure packs are being made available to consumers.

Early monitoring shows implementation of HIPs has gone smoothly.

• The average cost of a HIP is between £300 and £350, costs which apart from the EPC are already part of the home buying and selling process.
• The majority of HIPs are being provided within 14 working days.
• More than 370,000 HIPs have now been prepared.

Consumers buying new homes will additionally benefit from the mandatory inclusion of a rating against the Code for Sustainable Homes in the HIP from May 1, which will add significantly to the environmental performance information in the pack.

To help continue the smooth implementation of the packs into the market, the Government is extending the use of insurance cover where property search data is unavailable, from 31 March to 31 December 2008. The Government is currently consulting on new guidance on access and charging to help ensure a level playing field in the delivery of good quality searches at competitive prices.

Notes to editors

1. The Area Trials took place between November 2006 and April 2007. They were established to test, adapt and refine the processes involved in producing a HIP, to help ensure a smooth implementation. The trials were conducted in 8 areas: Bath, Newcastle, Southampton, Northampton, Huddersfield & Cambridge, Southwark and North West Wales. Ipsos MORI were commissioned to undertake research into the HIP to track the sale process and monitor perceptions. The final phase of the trial research, which involved interviews with buyers following completed transactions, was carried out in December 2007.

Work on the environmental performance existing buildings is being taken forward on a number of fronts, in collaboration with other government departments and key external stakeholders:

Energy efficiency in existing homes – The Energy Efficiency of Dwellings – Initial Analysis was published in November 2006 and work is continuing;

Energy efficiency in existing non-domestic buildings;

Water efficiency in existing domestic and non-domestic buildings;

Climate change resilience and adaptation.

The Government has launched home heating checklists to give you basic advice about the energy efficiency of your heating and hot water systems. When an engineer visits your home to service your heating system, they can use the checklist to tell you whether your system could be more efficient. The checklist also shows you how much you could save if you upgraded your system.

The checklists have been developed in conjunction with British Gas, CORGI, OFTEC, HETAS, IDHEE, the Energy Saving Trust and the Heating and Hot Water Industry Council.

Ask your engineer to complete a checklist when your heating system is serviced and find out how energy efficient your system is.

N.B. You should in any event ensure your heating and hot water systems are regularly serviced by a competent heating engineer to ensure its safety and efficiency.

The Government has introduced Home Information Packs to improve the process of buying and selling a home. All homes marketed for sale from 14 December 2007 in England and Wales will need a Home Information Pack (HIP).
A key component of the HIP is the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), which will rate the home’s energy efficiency, using graphs like those on fridges and washing machines. It includes recommendations on how to cut fuel bills and reduce carbon emissions, encouraging people to make improvements to the energy efficiency of their homes. Currently, any property that was already on the market on the relevant commencement date (ie 1 August 2007 for sales of homes with four or more bedrooms; 10 September 2007 for those with three or more bedrooms and 14 December for all properties) does not need to have a Home Information Pack.
At this stage no date has been set when all properties that are on the market will be required to have a Pack.
To find out more visit: www.homeinformationpacks.gov.uk.

These certificates are for all buildings and will be required whenever a building is constructed, rented or sold.

The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is broadly similar to the labels now provided with domestic appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines.

Its purpose is to record how energy efficient a property is as a building. The certificate will provide a rating of the energy efficiency and carbon emissions of a building from A to G, where A is very efficient and G is very inefficient.

EPCs are produced using standard methods with standard assumptions about energy usage so that the energy efficiency of one building can easily be compared with another building of the same type. This allows prospective buyers, tenants, owners, occupiers and purchasers to see information on the energy efficiency and carbon emissions from their building so they can consider energy efficiency and fuel costs as part of their investment.

An EPC is always accompanied by a recommendation report that lists cost effective and other measures (such as low and zero carbon generating systems) to improve the energy rating of the building. The certificate is also accompanied by information about the rating that could be achieved if all the recommendations were implemented.

When are assessments required?

An Energy Performance Certificate is only required when a building is constructed, sold or rented out. An EPC is valid for 10 years, except for sales of homes which are subject to the Home Information Pack Regulations 2007, where a Home Information Pack (HIP) is required. In these cases an EPC must be no more than 12 months old when the property is first marketed.

On Construction

When the construction of a new building is completed, the builder or person responsible for the construction is responsible for obtaining the certificate and providing it to the owner. This is a duty under Building Regulations. This will also apply if a building is converted into fewer or more units and there are changes to the heating, hot water provision or air conditioning/ ventilation services.

Homes will require an EPC on construction or such conversion from 6 April 2008. Some commercial buildings will require an EPC on construction or such conversion from this date.

On Sale

For existing buildings that are to be sold, the building’s owner is responsible for ensuring a certificate is made available to all prospective purchasers at the earliest opportunity.

For the marketed sales of homes, including homes marketed before they are physically complete (i.e. off plan), Home Information Pack (HIP) regulations apply. Where a HIP is required an Energy Performance Certificate must be produced as part of the pack (for off plan homes this will be an indicative energy assessment). On this website, references to marketed sales of homes mean marketed sales of homes which are physically complete when marketed. Homes sold without marketing for sale e.g. by private treaty between family members or Local Authority housing will require an EPC on sale from 1 October 2008.

On Rent

When buildings are to be rented out, the landlord is responsible for ensuring a valid certificate is made available to all prospective tenants.

Homes will require an EPC on rent from 1 October 2008.