Sustainability Committee

Inquiry into Carbon Reduction in Wales: Residential Carbon Reduction

Response from Brecon Beacons National Park Authority

BBNPA response to Assembly Sustainability Committee Inquiry into carbon reduction in Wales: residential carbon reduction request for written evidence October 2007

2 Should emission reduction targets be based on Welsh consumption, or production or both

This is a global issue. As such, reduction targets should apply to both

3. What, particular challenges does Wales face in reducing C02 emissions from households & how con these be overcome?

Challenges

High proportion of existing buildings not designed to be energy efficient
Newer housing with extravagant and ostentatious design, based on cheap energy and continued extensive private car use
Building technologies dependant on a high proportion of concrete and cement (with high C02 production)
Spread out, low density, linear development with no economy of scale
Lack of complete domestic Broadband availability across rural areas is a barrier to working from home as a means of reducing C02 production
Overcoming challenges
Combined heat and power installations
New low C02 building technologies
Support for sustainable design guidance
Support for higher density development on good transport corridors
Support decentralised production of eg energy & food to reduce transport impact
Limit development in deep rural areas
Fully enable Broadband availability across rural Wales

4. To what extent has WAG been successful in utilizing powers available to it to reduce household C02 emissions?

5. Could alternative targeting of WAG financial resources lead to greater household emissions reduction than is currently being achieved? if so where could additional resources have greatest impact?

• In strengthening building regulations

• In supporting and subsidizing domestic and community renewable energy installations and energy efficiency programmes — evidence from BBNPA Solar Club and BBNPA/CPRW Renewable Energy Assistance Programme is that individuals are persuaded to move from thinking about renewable energy to doing something about it (eg Solar Panels, micro-hydro) by a combination of relatively small financial incentive and, often more importantly, individual support to address sometimes complex technical, supply and planning issues.

6.What examples from other administrations where other means have been used to achieve

reductions in households C02 emissions could be adopted in Wales under current powers?

• Austria; have invested heavily on non-fossil fuels, including wood fuel, hydro and wind

• LLanwrda- combining local energy sources including hydro, biofuel, wind and wood

7. In the context of the Government of Wales Act 2006, which further means of reducing C02 emissions from households could only be achieved with the introduction of further legislative competence for NAW

• Compulsory purchase of areas of low density and redevelop at high density including Combined Heat and Power

• Allow low impact living in rural areas

• Enforced carbon reduction

• Strengthening Technical Advice Notes to promote proactive Planning Authority support for Renewable Energy eg in BBNPA Planning Advice notes on the various renewable technologies have enabled potential applicants to see the authority as proactive on renewables, and has encouraged a far higher level of applications for Solar Thermal, micro-hydro etc.