Minister announces zero carbon homes plans

Britons moving into a new house in the future may find that they benefit from significantly cheaper gas and electricity bills thanks to a new zero carbon housing standard which has been announced.

Housing minister John Healey made his announcement at a Green Building Council conference and claimed that home energy efficiency will be boosted by 2016.

From that year, all houses being built in the UK will require twice the insulation to be included as is currently standard, which could help homeowners achieve cheaper gas and electricity bills.

Housing future 'looks green'

By 2019, Mr Healey pledged that all new non-domestic buildings must be carbon-zero, while public sector buildings must have reached the same goal by 2018.

And the minister pledged that the government would make £3.2 million available to put towards making more energy efficient homes.

"There's a driving force behind the green homes movement from homeowners, developers and local authorities, to reduce energy bills and carbon emissions.

"New homes are 40 per cent more energy efficient now compared to 2002, but we must and can do more. The green movement is growing from the grand designs of a few, to a national movement," he added.

How insulation can save money

So how exactly does insulation help to reduce gas and electricity bills?

According to the Energy Saving Trust, insulation is one of the "most effective" ways of boosting home energy efficiency and reducing utility bills as a result.

The green advice group states that half of the heat lost from a property exits through the walls and loft, which means that topping up or installing insulation in these areas could make a dramatic difference.

Indeed, the group claims that cavity wall insulation could save £115 a year on fuel bills, due to a reduction in the need to use central heating.

Meanwhile, solid wall insulation could result in a saving of £400, loft insulation could knock £150 off annual gas bills and even draught-proofing doors and windows could save as much as £200 a year.

With this in mind, Britons may wish to follow the advice of both the trust and Mr Healey and get insulating in order to enjoy the benefits of cheaper gas bills sooner rather than later.