Zero carbon ambition for new non domestic buildings

The Government's aim of ensuring that all new non domestic buildings are zero carbon by 2019 was made clear in the 2008 budget. With about half of the nation's carbon emissions being from buildings, the prize is clearly one worth the effort. DCLG has a current consultation on how this target is to be achieved. No real surprises (the plan is to use a combination of energy efficiency and on and off site renewables) but a couple of points struck me;

1) the Climate Change supplement to PPS 1 will be updated next year with a view to a clearer role for local planning authorities in energy planning and ensuring zero carbon targets are met.

2) the Government is clearly concerned that the property market has not yet responded to the issues through higher premiums for zero/low carbon buildings so we are likely to see some measures designed to manipulate the market in this way

Comments

[Bish Bosh]

Surely it would be preferable not to have higher premiums for zero/low carbon buildings but the reverse?