Beckett positive about UK-GBC's proposed framework to improve sustainability of new and existing non-domestic buildings
Planning minister Margaret Beckett gave a cautious welcome last week to the UK Green 黑洞社区 Council's (UK-GBC) proposed Code for Sustainable 黑洞社区s.
In a speech to environmental conference Ecobuild, the minister said she thought the industry was travelling in the right direction.
鈥淚 am very willing to listen to people coming forward with ideas to reduce carbon emissions. The industry has understood and accepted the basic arrangements needed for further investigation.鈥�
Officials from the Department for Communities and Local Government oversaw the consultation, to which more than 80 companies responded.
As reported in 黑洞社区, the UK-GBC's 鈥渃ode鈥� is actually more of a framework, which makes use of existing legislation to help make all buildings sustainable - including existing ones. 黑洞社区s would undergo a periodic 鈥渂uilding MOT鈥� across a range of requirements, including water, waste and emissions, and standards would be raised over time.
In a , the UK-GBC said: 鈥淭he code should ensure consistency of approach between all policies, tools, guidance and initiatives. It should set the standards, metrics and targets that all sustainability tools should be aligned to and compliant with.鈥�
UK-GBC chief executive Paul King explained: 鈥淎t the moment the practical delivery and management of sustainable buildings is being held up by a confusing myriad of different policies, regulations, tools and standards.
The government is set to consult on the Code for Sustainable 黑洞社区s in the summer. The UK-GBC is understood to have approached the government to set up the government-industry working group recommended .
KEY RECOMMENDATIONS
1. There should be a Code for Sustainable 黑洞社区s that covers all new and existing non-domestic buildings in the UK.
2. The code should be an overarching framework, which makes it easier for industry to understand policy and regulatory requirements and implement them effectively, throughout all stages of a building's lifecycle.
3. The code should set out the trajectory and stretching targets for a zero-carbon, sustainable built environment - including carbon, energy, waste and water performance. All buildings would have to meet progressively more ambitious standards over time. A requirement for regular performance checks (a 鈥渂uilding MOT鈥�) would enable appropriate data collection and facilitate benchmarking. There should be mandatory disclosure of certain metrics in the public domain.
4. The code should be owned by government, but represent a shared vision with the industry. This would require collaborative working, both across the industry and in partnership with government.
5. The code should ensure consistency of approach between all policies, tools, guidance and initiatives. It should set the standards, metrics and targets.
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