Energy and Net Zero Carbon Buildings
Contains Options
The UK has a legally binding requirement of net zero carbon by 2050. In June 2021, government adopted its sixth carbon budget, which forms part of the route map to achieve net zero carbon by 2050, with a 63% reduction in emissions from 2019 to 2035 (78% relative to 1990). Southampton has an ambitious target for the city to reach net zero by 2035.
Promoting energy efficient buildings and low carbon or renewable sources of on-site energy production reduces costs, helps secure diverse energy supplies, enhances competitiveness, and helps address climate change. It reduces the need and the cost of retrofitting measures in the future.
Development proposals should make the fullest contribution to minimizing carbon dioxide emissions in accordance with the following energy hierarchy:
Be lean: use less energy;
Be clean: supply energy efficiently (prioritise decentralised energy);
Be green: use renewable energy.