Renewables
Developers and building designers are increasingly being encouraged to adopt a policy of integrated renewables into their development plans by local planning authorities seeking to fulfill their PPS22 (see: Policy Initiatives > PPS22) requirements.
Using an element of renewable technology, such as solar thermal panels or heat pumps also helps significantly to reduce the DER carbon emissions level (see: SAP). It therefore makes sense to take advantage of these planning requirements for the benefit of building regulations compliance, by considering renewables as part of the overall energy saving strategy for the building.
For example this might be achieved by providing solar panels for domestic hot water heating, while continuing to specify low cost electric space heating, reducing CO2 levels and meeting the renewables contribution targets at the same time.