With politicians fighting over the green agenda, long-term insecurity of fuel supply & prices, and daily reminders of climate change, it seems ever more apparent that we need to find new solutions to the way we live and the homes we occupy.

Hockerton Housing Project (HHP) was considered 10 years ago to be pioneering but marginal - today it is being slowly recognised as offering serious solutions to a growing problem. Yvette Cooper, Housing Minister, visited HHP in March 2007 (click here to see report) to discuss our experience of zero carbon housing to help government make better informed decisions. 

The Government has also signaled very strongly its intention of moving the agenda forward with the launch of Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) and the announcement that by 2017 all new homes will have to achieve a zero carbon standard. The CSH extends energy efficiency significantly beyond current building regulations, but also incorporates energy generation, water, ecology and other environmental issues. Although voluntary for most developers currently, it is already a requirement for housing associations, and will be regulated for all developments from 2010. This is challenging designers and developers to consider more innovative solutions to reduce environmental impact.

This workshop will help you to understand more about the new challenge of zero carbon housing and to develop with HHP, and others on the workshop, plans for achieving practical solutions.