Definition of zero carbon consultation <br><br>The definition of zero carbon consultation closes later this month. Industry is urging housebuilders to respond: “If you only ever reply to one consultation in your life, this is the one to reply to,” said David Mitchell, technical director for the HBF. <br><br>NEXT KEY DATE: The definition of zero carbon consultation closes on March 18 <br><br>Feed-in tariff campaign <br><br>Following a push for a feed-in tariff (FIT) for renewable energy supported by the HBF, the government has committed to establishing a tariff for solar photovoltaics and other electricity technologies from next year. In late January, the UK Solar PV Manufacturers Association launched a campaign to promote the use of solar power in the UK, entitled “We support solar,” as an attempt to ensure that government will devise a fair and effective mechanism to incentivise businesses and individuals to invest in solar power in the UK. John Slaughter, HBF’s director of external affairs explained: “We wish for a subsidy to exist to encourage the installation of small scale renewable energy supply. We joined others to lobby the government to introduce tariffs as a way of helping make the zero carbon homes agenda achievable and affordable.” Slaughter added …