Zero carbon costs loom

Dec 30 2010 by Kelley Price, Evening Gazette

He added measures such as the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) - next year’s scheme to reward those that generate their own heat from renewable sources - would help accelerate the move to zero carbon.

Python Properties bosses are considering installing air and ground source heat pumps as part of its revamp of Middlesbrough’s Cargo Fleet Building to take advantage of payments.

Mr Shapps commissioned the Zero Carbon Hub to help speed up the UK’s progress and advise on measures that can be taken on-site to reduce carbon emissions. A Community Energy Fund, through the Government’s Community Infrastructure Levy, is one of the proposed ideas to help meet extra costs.

But David Hunt, director of green energy installers Eco-Environments, which is opening a Darlington branch, says the 2019 deadline is very good news.

“The construction industry is reticent about the move to zero carbon because it’s had a hard time over the last couple of years and low-carbon means additional costs,” he said.

“But the equivalent deadline for the housebuilding industry is already bringing developers to our door. Housebuilders are starting to realise zero carbon is a fact of life.

“Green technologies are not like computers or TVs where they drop to half-price after 18 months, but we are starting to see economies of scale.

“Photovoltaics (solar cells) especially are starting to come down in price.

“We have ambitious plans for Darlington to be a green hub.”