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The threat to the planet from climate change, depletion of our natural energy resources and concern over the long term security of our energy supplies, means that energy efficiency and carbon dioxide emissions reduction has never been higher on social and polital agendas.
With the energy used to heat, light and run buildings accounting for nearly half of the UK's carbon dioxide emissions, it is no surprise that a raft of European Directives, national legislation and government policy across the domestic and commercial building sectors now exists to reduce the long term energy and carbon impact of our buildings on the environment.
As part of EU, wide action to increase the use of renewable energy, the UK has committed to sourcing 15% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020 and building integrated renewable technologies, such as solar hot water solutions and solar electricty which will play an important part in achieving these targets.
Of course to deliver sustainable, low energy, low carbon building, designers and specifiers must take an increasingly holistic approach to reducing building energy demand and the use of renewable energy technologies. But as energy standards from policies such as the Code For Sustainable Homes increase - eg: domestic new build requirements to be zero carbon by 2016, the integration of multiple renewable technologies to provide low carbon heating, hot water and electrical power will be essential in achieving these targets.
