The New Homes (Solar Generation) Bill had its second reading on Friday
The Bill was rejected by officials
It was initially brought forward by Max Wilkinson, Liberal Democrat
Compulsory solar panels on new homes could result in a “future in which people have lower bills
The New Homes (Solar Generation) Bill, which would have made it compulsory for all new homes to have solar panels installed, has been rejected by the House of Commons.
Originally brought forward by Liberal Democrat, Max Wilkinson, the bill, also known as the ‘Sunshine Bill’, had its second reading on 17 January where Wilkinson said the Bill could “help tackle the twin crises of the cost-of-living crisis and climate change”.
Wilkson said that compulsory solar panels on new homes could result in a “future in which people have lower bills, a future in which we are less reliant on dirty and expensive fossil fuels often imported from abroad and a future in which this country’s energy supplies are more secure”.
The energy price cap increased a further 1.2% from 1 January, setting it as £1,738 a year for a typical household. For context, this is almost a £1,000 increase in less than five years.
While it’s difficult to determine the cause of these rising prices, it’s widely believed that increased demand for oil and gas as a result of Covid-19 lockdowns and the Russian and Ukraine war is to blame.
Wilkson, as reported by the BBC, described the previous action on renewables in housing as “short-sighted” and that bills could and should be hundreds of pounds lower for everyone”.
Written by
Tamara BirchSenior Writer
Tamara is a London-based journalist and has written about environmental topics for more than four years. This includes advising small business owners on cost-effective ways, like solar panels and energy-efficient products, to help them become more sustainable.
She has used her journalist and research skills to become highly knowledgeable on sustainable initiatives, issues, and solutions to help consumers do their bit for the environment - all while reducing monthly costs.
In addition to adopting sustainable practices in her personal life, Tamara has worked in the retail B2B space to help independent retailers think about their environmental choices and how they can help improve their business. She now uses this knowledge to help consumers do the same.
Her passion for sustainability and eco-friendly solutions stems from a long obsession with nature and animals and ensuring they feel looked after. In her free time, Tamara enjoys reading fantasy novels, visiting the gym, and going on long walks in new areas.
You can get in touch with Tamara via email at tamara.birch@mvfglobal.com.
Max joined The Eco Experts as content manager in February 2024. He has written about sustainability issues across numerous industries, including maritime, supply chain, finance, mining, and retail. He has also written extensively for consumer titles like City AM, The Morning Star, and The Daily Express.
In 2020, he covered in detail the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) legislation on sulphur emissions and its effects on the global container shipping market as online editor of Port Technology International.
He also explored the initiatives major container ports and terminals have launched in order to ship vital goods across the world without polluting the environment.
Since then, he has reported heavily on the impact made by environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices on the supply chain of minerals, with a particular focus on rare earth mining in Africa.
As part of this, in 2022 Max visited mines and ports in Angola to hone in on the challenges being faced by one of the world’s biggest producers of rare earth minerals.
His most recent sustainability-related work came much closer to home, as he investigated the eco-challenges faced by independent retailers in the UK, specifically looking at how they can cut emissions and continue to thrive.
Max lives in South London and is an avid reader of books on modern history and ghost stories. He has also recently learned to play the game Mahjong and takes every opportunity to do so. He is also yet to find a sport he doesn’t enjoy watching.
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