Why are we so interested in reducing Carbon Dioxide Emissions?

Carbon Dioxide is the gas in question in this issue. It is this gas that is causing the problem we are facing at the moment and certainly in the future. Here is why.

First, the sun bathes the Earth in radiation. Some of that radiation we can see – visible light — and some of it we can't, like ultraviolet light. When solar radiation strikes Earth, the atmosphere reflects some of it back into space. The rest is absorbed by the atmosphere or penetrates through to the surface, where it is absorbed by land and water. Think of how a paved car park or puddle of water warms on a sunny day.

Then — and this is key — the Earth beams part of that heat back up to space — in the form of infrared energy. But while the transparent gases in the atmosphere let incoming sunlight pass through (that's where the name "transparent" comes from) they absorb or trap some of the infrared radiation sent up by the Earth. This infrared energy heats up the gas molecules, which then release some of that heat, helping warm the Earth. (In a real greenhouse, this "re-radiation" doesn't play a big role — the glass simply traps the warm air in the greenhouse.)

Also, it turns out that different atmospheric gases have different abilities to trap and radiate heat. The four major warming gases are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. Overall, water vapor plays the most important role in keeping the planet warm, but humans have little influence over how much water vapor is in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is the most important warming gas that we do influence, because we create it by burning fossil fuels, cutting or burning forests, and draining wetlands. We also help produce vast amounts of methane and nitrous oxide through farming and industrial practices.

Ironically, these greenhouse gases have helped make life on Earth possible; they've even given us those CO2 bubbles in our champagne and soda. But now, they could profoundly alter life as we know it.

So we need to reduce the Carbon Dioxide levels

You've heard the phrases Zero Carbon, Carbon Emissions, Carbon Footprint, and now you know what Carbon Dioxide does. The other phrases are recent phrases used to describe methods of monitoring and ways of reducing this problem.

How do we all contribute to Carbon Dioxide Emissions?

Basically there are a number of areas we all add to CO2 Emissions:

• The way our houses are built
• The amount of electrical appliances used in our houses
• The transport methods we use

OK it sounds pretty important, but hey thats for others to sort out not me

Wrong, the government have now implemented a scheme that will attempt to make all new build properties 'Zero Carbon' rated by 2016. This means there will be as it says zero Carbon Dioxide Emissions from the property. So whether construction companies like it or not they will have to start thinking about it. Thinking about it now will give construction and building companies a head start over their competitors.

OK so we had better start thinking about it 

This is the first hurdle and its a big one. As with most government policies they are complex and are difficult to implement. This one is no different.

 Click on image to read the government publication

Here are a few comments:

Roger Humber, strategic policy advisor to The Federation of Builders said, “Creating a zero carbon target for new houses is another example of ‘gesture politics’ with very little thought for implementation. “

Friends of the Earth said the time table was too long, and anyway what did he mean by zero emissions?

You can see already the debate has started, the government has replied to all the feedback.

Ruth Kelly, Secretary of Communities and Local Government fleshed out the Chancellors pledge with the Code for Sustainable Homes. The Code outlines a Star system for all new homes, Each home will be awarded points for meeting set criteria, these cover carbon emissions, water usage, water run off,construction materials, energy efficiency and source.

The challenge is clear, the UK’s homes produce around 40 million tons of carbon dioxide, that is 27% of the country’s total emissions. At the moment around 150,000 new homes are being built every year, if building continues at this rate by 2050 about a third of the then housing stock will be new build. By setting a high environmental bar on new houses the Government will make a deep cut in the potential emissions of all these new homes.

Whilst everyone will agree that new homes are the future, but what about existing homes? Many small developers still refurbish homes, and this equates to many more than new homes, so a bigger impact could be made now by guidance on how to reduce the 'Carbon Footprint' of existing and newly refurbished homes.