October 26, 2003—A high-level group of builders, developers, planners in the UK will spearhead efforts to raise the environmental quality of buildings, under the auspices of environment secretary Margaret Beckett.
The new Sustainable Buildings Task Group is charged with exploring ways in which industry and government can work together to promote sustainable development through better environmental performance in new and existing buildings. In addition, the group will be seeking significant improvements in performance on key issues including water, energy, waste and building materials.
The group is to look at incentives for innovation and how the planning system can help to spread best practice among designers, builders and other professions.
“Everyone must be clear that business as usual is not an option,” Mrs Beckett said. “Buildings contribute almost half of the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions. The government’s Energy White Paper sets out the energy efficiency and carbon reductions we need over the next 20 years, and the importance of better building standards to meeting our goals.”
She added: “Clients must demand more sustainable buildings. Financial institutions must back developers. We need sustainability at the heart of our skills and professional training. We need architects and designers to incorporate sustainability in their designs. Manufacturers must deliver efficient buildings services and fabric components. Builders must develop and market sustainable buildings, and we need consumers to demand those higher standards.”
The task group is to report to ministers by February 2004.
—Elliott Chase
Reprinted with permission; copyright 2003 i-FM
