- New Homes in England will be required to have solar panels and low-carbon heating systems under the Future Homes Standard (FHS) to be published this autumn.
- The FHS aims to reduce carbon emissions from new housing, addressing the UK's carbon footprint from gas heating in Homes.
- Energy Secretary Ed Miliband stated that solar panels could save households hundreds of pounds on energy bills, making their installation a common-sense requirement.
- The government says the measures will help cut household energy bills and boost the nation’s energy security, with typical Homes potentially saving around £530 a year by installing rooftop solar.
- While the government isn't banning gas boilers, the FHS mandates minimum energy efficiency criteria, effectively requiring greener heating systems in new builds, and recent planning rule changes have made heat pump installations easier.
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