Breadcrumbs
Heat, Power and Profits: Energy By Design - 30 January 2006
Launching a new guide ‘Sustainable Energy by Design’, the environmental charity showcases how innovative planners, developers and investors are doing their bit to combat climate change, whilst profiting from the increasingly competitive business of supplying clean, green energy in towns and cities across the UK.
However the charity warned that despite positive market signals, and consumers clamouring for action on climate change, most developers are still missing a trick. The TCPA said developers must back calls for the new Code for Sustainable Homes to be made mandatory through Building Regulations.
TCPA Director Gideon Amos said: “We must avoid a dash for trash. Rising to the challenge of providing new homes while reducing dangerous carbon emissions demands action from government, the private sector and communities working in partnership.
“It’s about better, not more regulation. It makes good business sense for developers to back a mandatory Code. This the only way to drive up standards and provide choice for consumers increasingly concerned about climate chaos.”
Speaking at the national TCPA conference on Planning for Climate Change, ODPM Planning Minister Baroness Andrews said:
“Tackling climate change through planning requires a strong lead from central government with local authorities and developers playing their part too. That is why we have already set out, and are now reinforcing, clear policies on environmental sustainability to ensure that the new homes that the next generation needs are built in a more sustainable way.
“We are acting firmly on climate change adaptation in our revisions to PPS25 on development in flood risk areas, now out to consultation. We also published last year a powerful high level statement on planning principles for climate change mitigation in PPS1. I set out today both how we expect that to be used - and how we might be able to develop it further.
“The TCPA Planning for Climate Change conference is an important milestone that gives all involved an opportunity to shape the debate, and to continue to develop our programme of responding to the challenge of climate change.”
Welcoming the new Energy guide, Terry Robinson of the Countryside Agency said:
"Community led renewable energy schemes are an excellent way of empowering communities to influence the way they receive their electricity and heat. By people working together to develop clean and efficient ways of producing electricity, in harmony with the character of the local area, communities can benefit directly from the income generated. This is sustainable development in action."
Packed with real-life case studies the guide illustrates how city wide, neighbourhood and street-scale initiatives are securing clean affordable energy for the long term through measures including super energy efficiency as well as solar, geothermal, wind and biomass power. It also sets out how a range of innovative delivery mechanisms, such as Energy Service Companies, can be used to make sustainable energy commercially viable.
Also welcoming the guide, Dan Epstein, Environmental Policy Manager for the national regeneration agency English Partnerships said:
"The guide will be an important reference document for individuals and for the business community, providing guidance on how to meet Government energy targets while highlighting the benefits of being more energy efficient. As the national regeneration agency, we are committed to supporting initiatives that help create sustainable growth by minimising the impact on our environment."
Gideon Amos continued:
“Our new guide highlights the cheapest and safest way cut emissions, whilst maintaining the reliability of energy supplies. It demonstrates how an increasingly competitive market in the UK and beyond can help to ensure that every home is built or retro-fitted to be adequately and affordably heated - making sustainable communities truly sustainable.”
The TCPA is leading a broad coalition calling on Government to issue a cross-departmental statement highlighting the role of planning to combat climate change. Public authorities and the private sector have a key role in responding to he threats and opportunities presented by climate change.
There are opportunities on all sides:
· For politicians to alleviate environmental concerns about growth, and deliver truly sustainable development;
· For industry to gain certainty and a level playing field;
· For local authorities to deliver on planning guidance as well as deliver urgently needed (high quality) new homes.
Household emissions currently account for 31 per cent of total carbon emissions in the UK, with all buildings together accounting for 50 per cent.
The Government’s Energy White Paper (March 2003) recommended that 20 per cent of the UK's electricity should be met by renewable energy by 2020.
On Monday (23 January) the Department for Trade and Industry Secretary of State and Minister for Energy launched the Energy Review consultation document "Our energy challenge: securing clean, affordable energy for the long term".
The Government’s energy review will consider whether the country needs to replace its ageing nuclear power stations to help achieve its target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 60% by 2050.
The TCPA will launch an Energy Policy Statement in response to this consultation in April 2006.
Notes to Editors
1. The Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) is an independent campaigning charity working to improve the art and science of town and country planning. The TCPA puts social justice and the environment at the heart of policy debate and inspires government, industry and campaigners to take a fresh perspective on major issues including planning policy, housing, regeneration and climate change. Join the TCPA at http://www.tcpa.org.uk/
2. Sustainable Energy by Design is part of the TCPA by Design series, which will soon also be available online. A series of training seminars will be run by the TCPA.
3. Sustainable Energy by Design was supported by national regeneration agency English Partnerships, CABE, the Countryside Agency and the Pilkington Energy Efficiency Trust.
4. The online resource Biodiversity by Design will be launched on 9 February 2006.
5. Launched last week the new TCPA Sustainable Housing Forum guidance sets out how spatial planning – at local and regional levels - can improve quality of life, reduce the impacts of climate change, and help to prevent future climate chaos by aiming for carbon-neutral development. The guide offers step-by-step advice on:
· Promoting high energy efficiency standards to reduce CO2 emissions
· Reducing the need and propensity to travel by car
· Promoting small- and large-scale renewable energy projects
· Rethinking the design and layout of communities to take account of environmental limits and promote sustainable growth for the 21st century
TCPA MEDIA CONTACT: KIRSTEN GOGAN 020 7930 8903 / 07952 545 355
CASE STUDIES ARE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST.
Climate Change Coalition supporters include:
Association of British Insurers (ABI); Bill Dunster Architects; British Wind Energy Association; CURE University of Manchester; Friends of the Earth; Green Alliance; IT Power Ltd. Local Government Association (LGA); London Borough of Merton; London Borough of Croydon; Woking Borough Council; the British Photovoltaic Association (PV-UK); Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI); Places for People group; Planning magazine; Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB); Renewable Power Association; Solar Century; Solar Trade Association; Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS); Town and Country Planning Association; Woodland Trust; WWF; Wildlife Trust.
