Housing Minister Grant Shapps recently re-affirmed his commitment for all new build homes to be zero-carbon from 2016. He also confirmed the work, carried out last year for the previous Government, in creating the 'Fabric Energy Efficiency Standard'.

Is the timescale realistic and what needs to happen to achieve this? Andrew Morphet of Synergy Property Services Ltd comments:

Housing Minister John Healey recently announced a new Standard for the energy efficiency of zero carbon homes. The new Standard will cover energy demand for space heating and cooling.Synergy Property Services, with its extensive experience, is supporting and guiding efforts to design new, energy efficient homes.

Most people involved in property, already know that the Government intend to raise the bar at regular intervals over the next few years regarding improved energy conservation in buildings. With the next phase of the European Energy Performance in Buildings Directive already well into its consultation phase, the UK Government is now focused on UK problems and targets. So for property owners, builders and developers, what do these proposals for energy conservation mean?