NEF to investigate opportunities for zero carbon homes in Milton Keynes
The National Energy Foundation has been awarded funding through the Energy Saving Trust's Innovation Programme to carry out a feasibility study into opportunities for using a carbon offset fund to build zero carbon homes in Milton Keynes.
"Milton Keynes is expected to expand rapidly over the next 10 years, adding between 10,000 and 30,000 new homes," explained Jeremy Draper of Milton Keynes Council, one of the partners in the project. "We have a responsibility to ensure that these homes are sustainable and meet the needs of local people, yet do not contribute to the global problem of climate change. The new City has a deserved reputation for innovative low-energy housing solutions dating back over 20 years and the Council is keen that it remains at the forefront of energy efficient and low carbon developments."
Gareth Ellis, manager of the NEF-Renewables Team added "The Foundation will be working closely with the Council, Milton Keynes Energy Agency and English Partnerships over the next few months to investigate ways in new homes can achieve a net zero increase in carbon emissions. This could be by incorporating renewable energy into new developments, or by making payments into a carbon offset fund. The fund would then invest in other carbon saving projects across the City, including energy efficiency in existing homes and, possibly, tree planting schemes that would enhance Milton Keynes' green spaces."
English Partnerships are actively involved in the study to ensure that any proposed solutions are practical and will not act as a brake on the development of the City. The fourth partner, Milton Keynes Energy Agency, will be looking at opportunities for making carbon savings through energy efficiency projects, especially in hard to heat homes.
The Energy Saving Trust's Innovation Programme provides support for Local Authorities and their project partners to promote and implement innovative approaches to reducing carbon emissions in their local areas. The Innovation Programme wants to encourage a holistic approach to carbon reduction. The focus is increasingly on energy efficiency and how projects can work with renewable energy activities funded from other sources. It is hoped that this feasibility will lead to a pilot implementation study seeing how a carbon offset mechanism works in practice.
For more information, please contact Gareth Ellis at the National Energy Foundation on 01908-665555.
12 March 2003
The National Energy Foundation: Registered in England - Charity No. 298951
