An easy – to – follow guide detailing the best way of achieving net zero carbon in a house build or renovation has been published by Folkestone & Hythe District Council.
The best practice toolkit is aimed at homeowners as well as small or medium-sized house builders, architects, contractors, self-builders and consultants, and covers steps from pre-planning through to construction.
Council officers have worked with Kent County Council and with industry experts Etude, Levitt Bernsten and Introba to produce the guidance detailing the very latest design approach and good practice.
Production of the toolkit has been funded by the council’s Climate Change reserve fund and by Homes England and has drawn on work carried out by the council on proposed developments within the district, such as Otterpool Park.
Cllr Stephen Scoffham, Cabinet Member for Climate, Environment and Bio-Diversity, said: “The toolkit brings together a wide range of expertise in a simple to navigate style. It will be extremely valuable to builders and architects as well as district residents who are retrofitting or extending their homes and want advice about achieving net zero carbon.
“We are confronting an international emergency which we can all address in different ways and the guide is just one of those ways. It is a hugely valuable resource and is a major advance in helping to reduce the district’s carbon footprint to net zero by 2030.”
The most extensive section of the guide is dedicated to new buildings – the easiest structures to make zero carbon through energy efficient and carbon reducing methods of heating, cooling and ventilation.
In this section there are checklists for a new build project, clear lists of the actions necessary and step by step design guides for flats, houses and non-domestic buildings.
The toolkit is available to download from the council website here