May 19, 2004—An urgent change is needed in the way UK buildings are constructed and maintained to avoid the mistakes of the disastrous 1960s building boom, says a powerful group of building experts in a report delivered to the government.
Reviewing the available technologies for environmental improvement, the Sustainable Buildings Task Group has concluded that a significant uplift in quality is both possible and affordable.
The group’s report calls for the government and the building industry to adopt a single national Code for Sustainable Building which would raise the quality standards and reduce the unsustainable use of natural resources in the built environment.
The Sustainable Buildings Task Group co-chaired by Sir John Harman (chairman of the Environment Agency) and Victor Benjamin, (deputy chair of English Partnerships) was commissioned by ODPM, Defra and DTI at the Better Buildings Summit last October to develop a consistent approach to ensuring today’s buildings are fit for the future.
The new code would incorporate standards in energy and water efficiency and waste management that are above the minimum required by Building Regulations. The Group recommends that government should lead by example and adopt these standards for all new buildings in the public sector.
The group also calls for tighter regulations to be enforced, so that all new buildings would reduce energy and water consumption by 25%. Also, at least 10% of materials used in the construction of new buildings would be recycled or reused and more sustainable sources of materials encouraged.
“We believe that the construction, development and house building industries have not yet subscribed to much of the sustainability agenda and have not been persuaded of the long-term benefits. The Code for Sustainable Buildings would provide them with a level playing field for quality buildings,” said Sir John Harman, chairman of the Environment Agency and co-chair of the Group.
The energy used both during the construction and the lifetime of our buildings, accounts for approximately half of all greenhouse gas emissions in the UK. Not only do we urgently need to reduce these emissions but we also need to protect our buildings from the increased risk of flooding and droughts that we are experiencing as a result of climate change, said the Group as it called for the building industry and local authorities to ensure that any building on the flood plain is constructed with flood resilient materials. They also call on the insurance industry to insist on flood damaged properties being repaired in a flood resilient manner.
—Fionna Perrin
Reprinted with permission; copyright 2004 i-FM
