Solar panels and wind turbines could start mushrooming on UK dwellings following changes to the planning system intended to help combat global warming.

The Planning Policy Statement on Climate Change, introduced by housing minister Yvette Cooper last month, is intended to ensure councils and developers consider technologies such as solar panels, wind turbines or heat pumps to generate decentralised, renewable low-carbon energy on the sites of new or existing developments.

The policy will encourage developers to look at connecting projects to neighbouring community heating and power schemes, and require them to consider renewable energy when deciding a scheme鈥檚 location.

The policy calls for new developments to be sited 鈥渟o they can take full advantage of local renewable and low-carbon energy opportunities鈥�.

Launching the policy, Cooper said: 鈥淚f we are to reach the ambitious zero carbon standards we need a revolution in the way we heat and power our homes. We want councils to do more to back local energy.鈥�

Andrew Cooper, head of renewables at the Renewable Energy Association, said: 鈥淭he minister鈥檚 statement on the need to maximise the contribution from on-site renewables is particularly welcome. We look forward to seeing this further clarified in next year鈥檚 guidance notes.鈥�

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黑洞社区 Sustainable Design