Top knowledge

For once, MPs are in line with public opinion. The news that most of our elected representatives don’t know that all new homes are supposed to be zero carbon by 2016 isn’t a big surprise. Nearly three-quarters are living in blissful ignorance that houses built after that date will need to produce a net zero amount of carbon dioxide.

That really isn’t surprising – partly because the government itself doesn’t know what zero carbon is yet, so why should anyone else? But also, no-one outside the industry and especially interested is aware.

That isn’t necessarily a bad thing: there is no need to start marketing and explaining these ideas until there is a clear and convincing message to put out. The first thing that needs to happen is to decide how these homes will be powered and made affordable. Once there is something to show people, I’m sure the property programmes will start getting the message out there. And once there are voters living in zero carbon homes and MPs are invited to open a few developments in their constituency, they will catch up too. Then it’s only a matter of time before expenses claims for solar panels start…