The Construction Centre supports zero carbon plans for non domestic buildings

The UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) has this week announced its intention to lead a project for the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) researching the implications of implementing a zero carbon policy for non domestic new and existing buildings.

The Construction Centre today announced its support of the project having highlighted the need for a policy in a press release earlier this year. The Construction Centre stated that in order to significantly reduce carbon emissions throughout the UK guidelines for non domestic buildings would be critical.

The Green Building Council hope to gather valuable information following practical tests run by Land Securities Trillium, which will be undertaken on existing commercial buildings from the 1970’s, 80’s and 90’s to see how energy consumption can be reduced. The UKGBC has enlisted the help of it members to research the energy rating of a new building and how zero-carbon measures could apply to it in order to create the report. It is hoped that the report will enable the DCLG to release a consultation document by the end of the year.

Chief Executive of UKGBC, Paul King stated “Government is looking at a possible requirement for zero-carbon new non-domestic buildings within the next 10-15 years. We believe that with the right engagement and leadership from the industry now, this could be achieved within 10”.

However many fear a code for non-domestic buildings could be expensive and prohibitive as the renewable energy technologies currently available, such as solar panels and ground source heat pumps are not yet volume produced products.

Richard Simmons, Managing Director at The Construction Centre and a property developer for over 30 years said “It will inevitably become a chicken and egg situation. Everyone accepts the need for reduced carbon emissions but to create zero-carbon houses or commercial buildings will take significant investment from developers, pushing up prices in an already inflated market. Prices of renewable technologies will not come down until the industry is producing products on a much larger scale and until then, there will always be reticence from the building industry to incorporate them.”

The Construction Centre was clear in its support for the UKGBC and stated that the UK building industry must look forward to building with sustainability in mind. A code for sustainable non-domestic buildings is likely to become a reality for the construction industry and this research is the Government’s first step towards creating energy standards for commercial buildings.

More information can be found at
www.theconstructioncentre.co.uk
www.ukgbc.org

Contact:
Angela Gallacher (Head of Press and Marketing)
Telephone: +44 (0)1926 865825
Address: 1 Alpha House, Farmer Ward Road, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 2ED

www.theconstructioncentre.co.uk

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Based in Warwickshire The Construction Centre is part of the UK250 Ltd group.

This release was published on openPR.