Feb 23 2007
Communities and Local Government Minister Angela Smith has welcomed the progress that has been made in increasing the sustainability of buildings as acknowledged in two Parliamentary reports published today.
The reports on the Sustainable and Secure Buildings Act 2004 and the Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Act 2006 highlight action that Government has already taken such as the Code for Sustainable Homes and outline ambitious future plans including the Review of Existing Buildings, which will examine how to improve energy and water efficiency as well as looking at the impacts on climate change of all existing stock.
Further work is also underway to determine how the bold timetable for all new homes to be zero carbon within a decade could potentially be applied to other types of new buildings, public buildings and the existing homes which will still make up the majority of buildings.
Angela Smith said:
“There is overwhelming evidence of climate change and a broad consensus that urgent action is needed. As buildings account for around half of the UK’s total carbon emissions, it is vital that we take action to make them as sustainable and energy efficient as possible. These two reports highlight the progress which has been made but there is still a long way to go.
“Tougher standards such as Part L of Building Regulations are a start, but we must do more. The Code for Sustainable Homes is set to help us achieve zero carbon new homes by 2016. The challenge for Government and industry is now to work together to push even harder to extend improvements to all other types of buildings too”.
Consultations are currently taking place on the draft Planning Policy Statement on Climate Change, a joint Communities and Local Government/Defra study of water efficiency standards and the timetable for implementation of the Code for Sustainable Homes. All are due to finish next month