UK to house low-carbon buildings
UK Prime Minister, Theresa May, announced the Government’s commitment to halve the energy use of all new buildings by 2030. This comes as part of a series of initiatives introduced to deliver the UK’s Industrial Strategy. The welcome announcement was made during a speech on plans for the role of science and technology in the UK.
Reducing energy consumption in new buildings through modern construction will assist in meeting the UK’s carbon targets, as well as delivering lower energy bills. This commitment is a positive first step in the right direction, if the UK is to meet its Climate Change targets.
Commenting on the announcement, the UK Green Building Council’s (UKGBC) Julie Hirigoyen said: “Now this mission has been set, it will be vital to underpin it with clear and consistent policies. Government should set a trajectory for building regulations to achieve net zero carbon from 2030, as well as introducing long-term incentives for retrofitting homes and commercial buildings”.
To progress beyond these targets, there is a clear need for a robust policy framework to set a clear direction and establish large-scale demand for low-carbon buildings.
Amid this hopeful development, Sofia Kesidou, a doctoral researcher within SPRU (Science Policy Research Unit) at Sussex, explores the supply-side perspective for the delivery of efficient low-energy buildings.