Although renewanle energies are being supported, homes and buildings need to be designed to limit the requirement for renewable energy and improve comforts levels. The Passive House building standard would promote such performance. Objective 5.11, promotes that development maximise energy efficiecncy but the building regulations do not necesarily support these objectives, which is why the Passive House building standard should be adopoted as a minimum standard.
Embodied and operational carbon assessments should be a mandatory requirement for new developments, to both inform design and ensure tha thte cliamte change objectives are being met. The assessments will also inform design strategies and encourage the retention/refurbmishment of buildings rather than their demolition, a critical elment to acheiving climate change targets