Housebuilders warned over use of green technologies

More research into the use of environmental technologies must be carried out to prevent the housebuilding industry making costly mistakes on the road to zero carbon, a report by the NHBC Foundation has warned.

A Review of Microgeneration and Renewable Energy Technologies, a joint research venture between the National House-Building Council (NHBC) and the British Research Establishment, calls for a reality-check on carbon reduction, emphasising that a one-size-fits-all approach to renewable energy will be counter productive.

NHBC Foundation chairman Nick Raynsford MP said builders and developers had to understand the risks and issues associated with building zero-carbon homes.

He added: "The generation of energy using wind, water and alternative fuel is still in its infancy for mass-scale housing developments."

The research assessed 11 types of technology, examining cost-efficiency and carbon saving benefits, taking into account local authority planning requirements, location and seasonal variations. It found that solar photovoltaic systems could only pay back a quarter of their price and installation costs in electricity generation, while wind turbines "may never pay back their embodied carbon emissions" in some applications.

Imtiaz Faroohki, chief executive of the NHBC, said: "This research shows there is no technological 'magic bullet' to renewable energy.

"Providing hard facts and data through the Foundation will ensure the industry can make informed choices. Builders need to use the right technology for the right situation."

Mark Clare, chief executive of Barratt Developments, said: "The NHBC research is an important step forward and it is clear that much more needs to be done to ensure that there are reliable and cost effective technologies available."