Building industry ponders sustainability

Tag : building companies
The UK Green Building Council (UK-GBC) has launched a consultationto find out what guidance the industry needs to help it achieveGovernment sustainability targets.

Ministers have announced that following the 2016 zero-carbon targetfor homes, they also want all non-domestic buildings to be zerocarbon by 2019.

UK-GBC is inviting a range of companies and organisations from thebuilding industry to take part in a task group led by the council'schief executive Paul King.

The council wants to see a national Code for Sustainable Buildings developed, and the task group will discuss what standards shouldbe included.

Mr King said: "With the upcoming Government consultation on zerocarbon non-domestic buildings, this is an ideal moment to takestock and consider what kind of code and rating tools we need forthe future.

"Industry needs a clear and practical route map and milestones thatare aligned with Government policy to give it the confidence andknowledge to move forward on a trajectory to 2019.

"We also need to anticipate forthcoming European regulation in thisarea, and the growing demand from multi-national clients anddevelopers for increased harmonisation between internationaltools."

The consultation has been backed by industry bodies.

Rab Bennetts, director of architects Bennetts Associates, said: "Inthe same way that the UK GBC is a pan-industry body, so the Code for Sustainable Building should aim to be just the sort of joined-up thinking that offersclarity and strategic direction to designers, constructors, ownersand occupiers."

George Martin, head of sustainable development at construction firmWillmott Dixon, said he supported the idea of a national code forgreen building when it was first floated in 2004.

He added: "I was seriously disappointed when it was watered down tobecome the Code for Sustainable Homes .

"Now is the time for the UK to set an example and deliver anational Code for Sustainable Buildings ."

Kate Martin