The UK Green Building Council today welcomed Government's plans to cut emissions from central government departments by 10 per cent but warned that a comprehensive strategy for reducing emissions across our built environment is urgently needed.
Paul King, Chief Executive of the UK Green Building Council said: "Energy use in homes and buildings is responsible for 43 per cent of the UK's carbon emissions. As the UK's biggest construction client and one of the UK's biggest occupiers of buildings, government is ideally placed to lead by example and put buildings at the heart of tackling climate change and reducing energy bills. The target to slash emissions in the first year of the new government is an ambitious and welcome first step.
"The Lib Dem manifesto set out a vision for a Zero Carbon Britain by 2050, and a zero carbon built environment is the foundation for that. Public sector buildings should be the cornerstones of new low carbon district heat schemes and government needs a radical and comprehensive strategy to cut emissions not just from Whitehall buildings, but from homes and workplaces up and down the country.
"The UK-GBC looks forward to a renewed commitment to the flagship policies for building zero carbon new homes and buildings and a renewed focus on refurbishing our existing stock all of which the Conservatives and Lib Dems supported in opposition. That will require a suite of policy, regulatory and fiscal measures. But it will also create jobs, stimulate a new low carbon industry, contribute to energy security and offer people and businesses ways to save much-needed cash."
Source: UK Green Building Council
