Britain sets sights on "zero carbon" homes

[Barrett808]

Britain sets sights on "zero carbon" homes
By Jeremy Lovell
Wed Dec 13, 8:21 AM ET

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain set out plans on Wednesday to help tackle global warming by making all new housing "zero carbon" within a decade.

From 2016 green new homes should generate from renewable or low carbon sources at least as much electricity as they use, local government secretary Ruth Kelly told a news conference.

Homes produce some 40 million tonnes of carbon a year or about one quarter of Britain's greenhouse gases, making them the third largest emitter after business and transport.

"Building the homes we need for future generations while meeting our climate change goals is one of the most complex environmental challenges facing the country," Kelly said.

"We can only meet this challenge by transforming the quality of new homes, changing the way we plan new developments and galvanizing the nation to play their part."

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061213/sc_nm/climate_britain_housing_dc_1