FLINTSHIRE Assembly Members have backed ambitious clean energy proposals for new homes in Wales.

New home owners could benefit from more energy efficient homes which would be cheaper to run from 2025.

The Welsh Labour Government has set out proposals which would lead to all new homes in Wales being heated and powered only from clean energy sources. The consultation proposals are part of wider Welsh Government plans to address the climate emergency it declared last year.

Jack Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside said: “The climate crisis is the biggest challenge of our time and housing is a key contributor to it, as new and existing homes currently account for 9 per cent of Welsh greenhouse gas emissions.

“I would urge local developers to engage with this process and take part in this consultation.”

The proposals include: Improved energy efficiency from 2020 which will lead to a 37% reduction in CO2 from new dwellings, compared with current standards, and save homeowners £180 a year on energy bills (based on a semi-detached home). In addition, all new homes will need to be future-proofed, to make it easier to retrofit low carbon heating systems

Phasing out the use of high-carbon fossil fuels and moving to cleaner ways to heat our homes though the introduction of low carbon heating and energy generation, such as renewable energy sources (photovoltaic panels), heat pumps or district heat networks, which involve heating and hot water to multiple buildings from a central heat source

Improving energy efficiency thorough introducing measures that limit heat loss and reduce the demand for heat, such as triple glazing and higher standard fabrics for walls, roofs, floors, and windows

Improving air quality by ensuring the supply and removal of air to and from a space or spaces in a building provides good air quality. This will also help ensure people's physical well-being is maximised

When the new building standards are implemented in full in 2025, homes should produce 75-80% less CO2 emissions than ones built to current requirements.

Hannah Blythyn, AM for Delyn added: “These proposals are a huge step towards the Welsh Government’s target of reducing our greenhouse gas emissions by 95 per cent by 2050, but this action not only helps the save the planet, but will cuts costs and help put savings in people’s pockets.”

The consultation can be found online at: https://gov.wales/building-regulations-part-l-review-0

You have until the March 12 to respond.