Imtiaz Farookhi, chief executive of the National House Building Council (NHBC), has been appointed to champion the rights of purchasers on the industry’s zero-carbon housing taskforce.

Farookhi said: “A huge amount of research and work is needed so that new technologies are fully tested and accredited.

“It is essential that consumers are not used as guinea pigs in the drive to achieve zero carbon by the use of systems and methods not fit for purpose.”

The taskforce has appointed the BRE/NHBC’s National Centre for Excellence in Housing to carry out research to show how the industry can meet the 2016 zero-carbon housing target. Neil Jefferson, the NHBC’s general manager for external relations, has been appointed managing director of the centre.