An interesting experiment is about to begin in England. The government has announced that all new homes in the country will have to be carbon neutral by 2016.

Along the way, building codes and regulations will be tightened in two steps, and all new homes will be given star ratings to reflect their energy efficiency. The measure is a part of the British government’s drive to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by at least 60 per cent by 2050. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas and a key factor in global climate change that most scientists now agree is occurring. England builds about 160,000 new homes a year, but only a handful are carbon neutral. Many builders reckon that making a new home carbon neutral adds about $57,000 (Canadian) to the price.