Builders Merchants Journal – BMJ Publishing to Builders Merchants and the UK merchanting industry for more than 95 years
The UK Green Building Council s calling for the government to simplify carbon reduction regulations to help businesses.
Chief executive Paul King said: “Government policy in the non-domestic buildings sector needs urgently sorting out. We’ve got energy performance certificates that haven’t really taken off and we’ve got display energy certificates that only apply to some buildings.”
“Businesses are also trying to get their head around the carbon reduction commitment following a moving of the goalposts in the comprehensive spending review. We think government could simplify regulations to both reduce the burden on business and achieve greater carbon reductions, cost effectively.”
A task group has been announced to produce recommendations to government on non-domestic energy use.The group will deliver recommendations to government in March on how to mandate display energy certificates for all commercial buildings and how to improve the carbon reduction commitment energy efficiency scheme.
Non-domestic buildings are responsible for around 17 per cent of all UK carbon emissions and according to the Carbon Trust, that figure could be reduced by 75 per cent at no net cost. That would result in a financial benefit to the UK of up to £4.5bn, cumulative to 2020.
