KITCHENS across Britain could look very different over the next six years after proposals were unveiled to ban gas hobs and boilers to curb climate change.
Government advisers have unveiled proposals which would mean an end to gas cookers and gas-fired central heating in new-build homes by 2025.
The proposals have been published by the Government's Committee on Climate Change which says that developers should be forced to install low-carbon heating systems so that Britain's legally binding emissions targets can be met.
It warned that British homes are not fit for the future with stalling efforts to cut greenhouse gases from housing and properties at growing risk of overheating and flooding.
This would mean that newly-built homes would not be able to have gas boilers or stoves fitted, stopping them being connected to the gas grid.
The committee accepted that low-carbon heating systems and extra insulation would add up to £5,000 to the cost of a new home, which would also take longer to heat up.
But they insist that the gas ban in new homes needs to be enforced 'by 2025 at the latest' to cut 14% of total UK greenhouse emissions caused by household energy use.
READ MORE: Reduce carbon emissions to improve public health?
But the Home Builders Federation condemned the proposal, arguing that it would make houses harder to sell.
The group said gas boilers are often cheaper and preferred by buyers while eco-friendly heating can add £5,000 to the cost of building a home.
The report, from the independent Committee on Climate Change, recommends these changes are made to new homes at first because it's much more economical that way. They say it costs £4,800 to install low-carbon heating in a new home, but £26,300 in an existing house.
They want new-build homes in the countryside to be warmed by heat pumps - and cooking done on induction hobs, rather than using gas boilers and hobs.
In cities, new housing estates and flats should be kept warm by networks of hot water, says the report.
Baroness Brown, chairwoman of the adaptation sub-committee of the CCC, said: "There are almost 30 million homes in the UK, and the depressing fact is most of them are not in a condition to keep us comfortable and productive and well as the climate changes.
"They are a huge part of the problem - energy use in our homes is around a fifth of greenhouse gases, and the biggest part of those emissions is from burning gas for heating and hot water."
A spokesman for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said that it would "carefully consider the Committee on Climate Change's recommendations".
Britain is committed to cutting its greenhouse gas emissions by 80% on 1990 levels by 2050, as part of the Climate Change Act 2008.
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