Think event assesses sustainability in a slowing market

A wide-ranging discussion on the barriers facing a sustainable built environment took place earlier this week. The Think Tank meeting, held on Monday, included key-note presentations from shadow Liberal Democrat Vince Cable and UK Green Building Council chief executive.

Cable and King

In a wide-ranging speech Cable considered the difficult challenges faced by Government in encouraging better practice and a more efficient building stock. Cable called for a more simplified tax system to incentivise green best practice as the Government struggled to deal with complex systems. He added that an economic demand would also lead to a reduced demand in energy in the short term.

UK Green Building Council chief Paul King warned against the industry becoming complacent about sustainability and called for a new mindset in the industry. “We all talk about buildings accounting for 50% of carbon emissions, but we’re the problem, not the buildings.”

We all talk about buildings accounting for 50% of carbon emissions, but we’re the problem, not the buildings

Paul King, UK Green Building Council

Contributions

The event, chaired by Greg Clark and held at the RSA in central London, also included contributions from sustainability experts amongst the 70-strong audience. Speakers included: Liz Peace, chief executive of the British Property Federation; Wolseley head of sustainability Tim Pollard; Gordon Hudson from Mott MacDonald; Esha Waterproofing managing director Tom Moon; Paul Everall from the LABC; architects Rory Bergin, from HTA, and Sheppard Robson head of sustainability Alan Shingler; and developer Hilary Reid Evans from Quintain Estates & Development.

The audience also divided into groups to put forward proposals for industry and Government to take up to embed sustainability.

The event was sponsored by consultancy group Mott MacDonald.