<p>The government has launched its keenly awaited consultation on Allowable Solutions.</p> <p>Allowable Solutions are measures that will enable housebuilders to meet the 2016 zero carbon standard, after the housebuilder has done what is possible with the building fabric and other measures within the site.</p> <p>The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has proposed that housebuilders can reach the standard through any combination of four options, “depending on what offers them the most cost effective method of meeting the carbon abatement requirement”. It estimates that Allowable Solutions could cost the industry around £224 million a year.</p> <p>Housebuilders can choose to:</p> <p>Undertake the full 100% reduction in carbon on site or via connected measures (e.g. a heat network);</p> <p>Achieve the remaining carbon abatement requirement through offsite measures- eg; renewable heat or energy schemes or through building to a higher standard than the current Part L;</p> <p>Use a third party Allowable Solutions provider to deliver the requirement according to the housebuilder’s obligations;</p> <p>Pay into a fund which invests in carbon abatement projects on the housebuilder’s behalf. The consultation runs until October 15.</p>