A commercial market should never be allowed to test or qualify sustainability – unless you’re not totally serious about the issue (2 May, page 3).

The government has taken the lead in signing up to binding emissions reduction targets and the commercial building sector must comply, or face fines and insurance issues.

Your leader mentioned that the government should step in and provide financial incentives to help the construction industry to become more sustainable. I disagree. When the climate change levy was introduced in 2001 to boost revenue for energy-saving initiatives, was the manufacturing industry brought to its knees? When the European emissions trading scheme was introduced did we run out of cement? No.

When the climate change levy was introduced in 2001 to boost revenue for energy-saving initiatives, was the manufacturing industry brought to its knees? NO.

Richard Pytel

Although it may cause the construction industry a slight headache, the assessments and work required by energy performance certificates are part of an important long-term picture. Shifting to a sustainable economy is not going to be easy – at best it will involve lots of little legislative inconveniences, but we do not have a choice. It should not be a question of economics vs eco-nomics: surely we are all working towards more sustainable economic practices, not testing whether sustainability fits into our wasteful economic ideologies.

Richard Pytel, head of energy services, energyTEAM

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