<p>Consumers are at risk of being overlooked in the industry’s push to achieve zero carbon housing by 2016. This is the warning of NHBC chief executive Imtiaz Farookhi, who insisted that the aspirations and health and safety of the home buying public should not play second fiddle to the political and regulatory agenda. Said Farookhi: “We must avoid using consumers as guinea pigs in our drive to meet carbon neutral housing targets, particularly in introducing new microgeneration technologies. “NHBC is acutely aware of the consumer issues and risks involved, since we deal with their claims against the 20,000 housebuilders on our register. We are concerned that discussions around sustainability have thus far focused on the regulatory and political agenda, and less on the impacts on purchasers.” </p> <p>Farookhi cited examples of consumers being uneducated on the risks associated with electricity being supplied direct to the home from roof-mounted wind turbines, and problems with the operation of combined heat and power (CHP) systems. “We don’t want to see the industry sacrifice the highest standards of quality, health and safety or customer satisfaction in its quest to meet carbon reduction targets,”he insisted. “Purchaser buy-in must be central to this agenda.” NHBC is …