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28 Feb 08 - New Homes Must Have Green Rating
All new homes must be rated on their green credentials
from May 1, the Government has announced.
Houses will be judged on nine categories of sustainable
design including energy, water and waste, following the
introduction of the Code for Sustainable Homes.
Properties which exceed the sustainable standards in existing
building regulations will be awarded up to six stars. Those
homes that have not been assessed against the code will
score a nil-rating.
Speaking at the Eco Build 2008 conference, housing minister
Caroline Flint said: "We need to tackle climate change
by improving how green and energy efficient our homes are.
"New build housing will play an important part in
this, and we are already committed to all new housing being
zero carbon from 2016. These measures are essential in tackling
climate change.
"By requiring a rating for all new homes against the
Code for Sustainable Homes in the run up to 2016, we are
making the standards that different homes reach more transparent
and are creating an important incentive for house builders
to provide greener, more sustainable homes."
Paul King, of the UK Green Building Council, welcomed the
news, saying: "The Code for Sustainable Homes will
fundamentally change the way we build and buy new homes
in this country."
News items supplied by SelectNews, produced by PA Business,
part of the group that owns The Press Association, the UK's
national news agency. Copyright (c) PA Business 2007.
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