John Healey: The homes of tomorrow, today
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Independent Minds
More than a quarter of Britain's carbon emissions come from our housing – they are leaking heat and energy and therefore money. They are contributing to the climate change threat.
In future, our homes will be green-proofed, for environmental as well as economic reasons. They will have smart meters to track energy use by the minute; they will also produce their own energy, potentially selling a surplus back into the grid. And there will be heat pumps and biomass boilers to produce energy for the wider community.
Pivotal in all of this is the green light I am giving to four pioneering eco-towns that in a decade's time will be the benchmark for every development that follows, providing those who live and work there with lower utility bills, energy efficient offices and new schools, community centres and services.
Eco-towns will have charging points for electric cars. People will live in smart homes, with energy drawn from the natural elements and instant control of heat and ventilation. Nearly half of the land will be open space. We said we want to see 10 eco-towns by 2020, so I will help fund work towards six more and with confidence that developers and councils will come forward with strong proposals.
John Healey is the Housing minister
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Comments
Are home car chargeing points not like some beta video recorders?. I ask as there is too much knee jerk politics and not enough visioning and strategy.
My scepticism is fueled by the announced closure of English wind farm manufacturer recently. How can we be less efficient at big windmill manufacturing.
I am married and live withe my mother in law and she does well freely Do you want her to come to UK?
A jump in U.S. home foreclosures to a record high in the first half of 2009 and warnings about consumer credit woes underscored the frailty of the U.S. economy at a time many forecasters see the nation poised to climb out of a deep recession that started in December 2007.
I thank you
Firozali A. Mulla