Memorandum submitted by Mr James Page
I attended your recent meeting where one member
asked Andrew Simms about solar water heating, noting that there
are only a few thousand installations each year, when the overall
target is for some millions.
Notwithstanding incentive schemes in the pipeline,
and that in some boroughs new houses are required to provide renewable
energy, the fact is that the vast majority of developments in
this part of London are loft extensions: every other house is
rapidly being extended. This will often make it more difficult
to add solar later (and sooner or later it will be needed.) It
is also a lost renewables opportunity: if there were an obligation
on extensions incorporating solar thermal, where possible, we
would rapidly see an increase in numbers, as well as the training
which will be needed. It would require no public money and the
householder would be only too pleased to oblige if it gets them
the planning permission for the extension.
June 2009
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