黑洞社区

The incoming chief executive of the UK Green 黑洞社区 Council, Julie Hirigoyen, has set out the top three priorities the organisation wants
the next government to adopt to create a more sustainable built environment.

Speaking to 黑洞社区, Hirigoyen - who has departed consultant JLL, where she was UK head of sustainability, to take up the UK Green 黑洞社区 Council (UKGBC) role from Tuesday (7 April) - said she thought sustainability would be 鈥渁 big issue鈥� in the general election campaign.

She said the three policies at the top of the UKGBC鈥檚 wish list for the next government are making energy efficiency a national infrastructure policy, commitment to minimum energy efficiency standards, and commitment to zero-carbon buildings, 鈥渋deally with no exemptions鈥�.

The Liberal Democrats have already committed to making energy efficiency a national infrastructure priority, a pledge made by energy secretary Ed Davey at the Ecobuild conference last month, but the other parties are yet to follow suit. The policy is also a key part of 黑洞社区鈥檚 Agenda 15 manifesto.

Hirigoyen said making energy efficiency a national infrastructure policy was 鈥渒ey for improving the energy efficiency of existing homes, as well as the non-domestic side of things鈥�.

Minimum energy efficiency standards were passed into law by parliament before the pre-election 鈥減urdah period鈥�, which Hirigoyen welcomed, and will make it illegal for landlords to rent out the most energy inefficient homes and properties from 2018.

Hirigoyen argued a commitment to both zero-carbon homes and non-domestic buildings was 鈥渄oable鈥�, adding: 鈥淚f there鈥檚 consistency and the requirements are clear the market will respond and deliver.鈥�

Hirigoyen said she was 鈥渆xcited鈥� to be heading up UKGBC, which she described as a 鈥渧ery effective group that punches well above its weight鈥�.

She said her initial aims were to meet UKGBC members to discuss 鈥渨hat they most value鈥� and 鈥渞eview our value proposition鈥�, as well as 鈥渂ringing in new members where we can to improve our scale and impact鈥�.

The UKGBC currently has 400 members ranging from academics to major corporate firms.

Hirigoyen said she hoped, with UKGBC鈥檚 input, construction and property firms could meet the 鈥渘ext level of maturity鈥� in sustainability over the next five years, 鈥渕aking it mainstream rather than just a feature of showcase projects鈥�.

She said she would advocate 鈥渁 more holistic approach鈥� to sustainability and expected more firms to judge 鈥渢he whole socio-economic impact of their projects and portfolios as well as environmental鈥�.

The increased emphasis on supply chain relationships as demand for services begins to outstrip supply will boost sustainability, Hirigoyen argued. She said: 鈥淭he focus on supply chains will become more and more important. Resource scarcity will force businesses to look more carefully at things, and at what materials they use and where they come from.鈥�

Hirigoyen said her background as founder of sustainability consultant Upstream - which was later acquired by JLL, leading her to work her way up to UK executive level of that firm - would stand her in good stead at UKGBC.

She said: 鈥淚鈥檓 excited to bring a real commercial grounding and entrepreneurial background to the role.鈥�