New homes cost more to heat as eco-energy plans were scrapped, experts claim

The “zero carbon homes” policy was due to start in 2016 but the Government ditched it to boost house building.

People moving into new places would be saving more than £200 a year on their energy bills if the plan had gone ahead.

The report from Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit said building a home to zero carbon standards would in theory add 1-2% on to the purchase price.

If current house-building rates continue, by the end of 2020, the amount of wasted energy to heat these less efficient homes will be more than £2 billion, using up enough extra gas to fuel 3.3 million homes for a year.

And it makes it harder to cut carbon emissions from homes, a necessary part of tackling climate change, and one where experts say the first step should be increasing efficiency.

Dr Jonathan Marshall, ECIU head of analysis, said: "Successive governments have struggled to devise effective domestic energy efficiency policies, meaning carbon emissions from homes are rising, but zero carbon homes could have made a real difference.

"As well as future-proofing new homes, the policy would have saved families money, reduced Britain's vulnerability to energy supply shocks, and cut carbon emissions.

"Tackling new-build homes is one of the easiest ways of improving the UK's leaky housing stock, and reintroducing this policy could also deliver a boost to firms involved in insulation and low-carbon heating."

A report by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit said 380,000 homes have been built since 2016.

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