The Zero Carbon Hub has announced it will cease operations as of March 31, 2016.
The Hub was established as a public / private body in 2008 to help translate the then Government’s target for all new homes to be zero carbon from 2016 into practicable regulation, and to remove the barriers to its implementation.
Over the past eight years the Hub says it has supported the new homes industry in the delivery of the zero carbon homes programme and overseen the successful introduction of higher energy efficiency standards.
Following the decision by the Government not to pursue the zero carbon target at this time, industry funding has been withdrawn.
Paul King, chair of Zero Carbon Hub Board, said: “The Zero Carbon Hub has been remarkably successful in bringing together a wide spectrum of stakeholders with an interest in the world-leading zero carbon target across public, private and third sectors. It has been a model of collaboration between industry and Government, helping translate policy aspiration into reality. I would like to thank the many individuals and organisations who have supported us on this remarkable journey and their commitment to improving the quality of new homes.”
Richard Twinn, policy advisor with the UK Green Building Council, said: “It’s incredibly disappointing to see the closure of the Zero Carbon Hub, although sadly not a shock given the direction of travel in terms of policy. The writing was perhaps on the wall last summer with the cancellation of the Zero Carbon homes policy, but the Hub was still playing an important role understanding issues such as overheating and performance. It could have helped to guide the industry in delivering better quality buildings during its current housebuilding push.”
The Zero Carbon Hub website containing all the work carried out in the past eight years will remain available at www.zerocarbonhub.org
