Building industry needs a "robust approach" to meet green targets

The green targets which were set out by Alistair Darling in his inaugural Budget will require a "robust approach" from the building industry, a sustainability expert has said.

Jon Lovell of property consultancy Driver Jonas told Construction News that the goal of ensuring that all new non-domestic buildings are carbon neutral from 2019 would be a challenge.

Mr Darling estimated that 75 million tonnes of CO2 emissions could be eliminated over the next three decades as a result of this measure.

However, Mr Lovell warned that the building industry will have to come together to decide on how this target can best be met.

"A fundamental overhaul of the way energy is generated, supplied and used is also needed, ensuring that developers are enabled to properly achieve new targets," Mr Lovell commented.

The government had previously set a target which stated that all new-build homes would be required to be carbon neutral by 2016.


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