| You would be hard pushed in our current times to | | | | other day-to-day uses, this can only be achieved by |
| not be aware of the debates surrounding | | | | increasing the on-site generation. For Fairglen the |
| environmental change and the efforts of | | | | economic option would have been a wind-turbine, but |
| governments and individuals to encourage sustainable | | | | the sheltered location of the site precluded this |
| living. The recent announcement by the British | | | | option. So to achieve this we came up with the idea |
| Government of four new eco towns to be | | | | of purchasing some generating capacity at an |
| developed around the UK creating 1000’s of | | | | established or new wind farm elsewhere, and passing |
| ‘carbon neutral’ homes is a good example of | | | | this asset to the owners. We could have done this |
| investment in this area. Surely a popular move, | | | | with the money saved on Stamp Duty Land Tax |
| great for the environment and a vote winner? But | | | | payments which would have been zero rated had we |
| has this really been thought through and what are | | | | achieved zero carbon. However, we were barred |
| the cost implications, and more importantly is there a | | | | from doing this by the regulations, which state that |
| better way to achieve carbon neutral housing in our | | | | the generation would have to be |
| communities? | | | | ‘hard-wired’ to the development and not |
| Looking at one location; St Austell, Cornwall - a few | | | | just owned by it in order to qualify. This in spite of |
| unique factors are present which need to be | | | | the fact that a high percentage would then have |
| considered alongside these plans. Currently in | | | | been sold back and exported into the national grid, a |
| Cornwall there is a huge gulf between income levels | | | | great solution for the environment as a whole”. |
| and affordable housing. Affordable housing is one of | | | | Encouraging eco houses is essential and these should |
| the key elements that will help sustain local | | | | be as close to zero-carbon as possible. However, as |
| communities in Cornwall. It is hard to see how this | | | | can be seen in the example above the legislation |
| site will be able to be affordable without very heavy | | | | made it impossible for the developers to achieve the |
| subsidy; eco homes are more expensive to develop | | | | carbon neutral status. Their wind sheltered area did |
| and the area for the scheme needs substantial | | | | not lend itself kindly to wind generation. Does this |
| investment to create an attractive living environment. | | | | mean that all new developments will need to be at |
| A few forward thinking developers in Cornwall are | | | | the top of hills so that they can benefit from |
| presently offering eco homes on the market; will | | | | increased wind-speed for generation? In spite of |
| these new eco towns make their efforts over | | | | the fact that they will lose more heat up there and |
| priced? Surely it would be more effective to | | | | need correspondingly more energy. Why does the |
| incentivize developers and individuals to use eco | | | | generating of power need to be ‘hard |
| building techniques on any new house and | | | | wired’ to the house? Any energy created in a |
| development. By subsidizing solar energy, wind | | | | green way surely is good for the environment as a |
| energy, rain water harvesting and similar product and | | | | whole. |
| techniques they will be more affordable to the mass | | | | Returning to our case study of St Austell Eco |
| market and used more widely. | | | | Towns, many questions remain unanswered. We |
| To achieve carbon neutral housing a number of | | | | are yet to see how these eco homes will truly |
| targets have to be achieved. Presently for a | | | | impact on the local communities and how much |
| housing development to achieve this status they will | | | | investment will be needed from the government to |
| be rewarded by saving themselves considerable sums | | | | make them affordable. Present legislation in the |
| of money through Stamp Duty Land Tax payments, | | | | area of eco developments and carbon neutral housing |
| a strong incentive for any canny developer. | | | | needs to be reassessed, to provide practical solutions |
| However there are problems that can rear their ugly | | | | for eco house building. Ultimately we need to |
| heads as realised by Simon Williams from Percy | | | | change the mindset of all house builders and show |
| Williams and Sons, developers of eco homes in | | | | them that building an eco home will not be a pain in |
| Cornwall: | | | | the wallet. Perhaps this is where the government |
| “The houses at Fairglen in Hayle with their huge | | | | should be directing their investment and not into |
| levels of insulation and energy-efficient features are | | | | grand scale vote winning schemes as seen in these |
| not actually zero-carbon, as there will inevitably be | | | | new eco towns. |
| energy used for domestic appliances, lighting and | | | | |