Building sustainability

A draft government and Industry Sustainable Construction Strategy has been drawn up to help the construction industry deliver more sustainable methods and products.

Suggestions made in the draft include reducing the carbon footprint of construction activities by reducing on-site waste, using sustainable materials and increasing skills in the workforce.

Stephen Timms, minister for construction at BERR, said: ‘Currently the built environment accounts for around 47% of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK and construction accounts for 1.5%. Not only must the construction industry rise to the challenge of reducing those emissions, it must also consider how it will adapt its products to deal with the impacts of unavoidable climate change.’

The proposed strategy is now available for feedback from the construction industry and other stakeholders, with the deadline for comment being 30 November 2007.