Developers will be forced to install solar panels on the “vast majority” of new homes, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has said, saying it is “just common sense”. The Telegraph has more.
The Energy Secretary said plans for a major increase in rooftop solar power were “just common sense” and should become “almost universal” across the country.
Four in five new builds will reportedly be required to have solar panels covering 40% of their ground area under new proposals, while 19% will be allowed to have slightly fewer because of exemptions such as those relating to roof pitch.
Mr Miliband claimed the move could save a typical homeowner £500 a year on their energy bills, despite industry fears that it would add thousands to developers’ costs.
It comes days after the Energy Secretary defeated an attempt by Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, to slash funding for the warm homes scheme, a £13.2 billion project to upgrade insulation and install other energy saving measures.
Warning that the current proportion of new build homes with solar panels was not high enough at 40%, he said: “It’s got to be much, much higher than that. It’s got to be almost universal. There will be rare exceptions where solar panels won’t be on, if they simply will make no difference.
“But for the vast, vast majority of homes… homes will be built, the solar panels will be there, saving something like £500 for the typical homeowner. It’s just common sense.”
Worth reading in full.
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