The Eco-build Challenge
Ken Aylmer, Footprint’s MD explains why sustainable building is so important:
The opportunity
"Under the Kyoto protocol, the UK must reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5% below 1990 levels by 2012. Our government has gone further and set a national goal of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 20% by 2010 and by 60% by 2050, with 15% of all energy from renewable sources by 2020.
To reach these targets and meet the threat of climate change, we all need to take action. This is not just a case of picketing large power stations or complaining about gas-guzzling 4x4s in central London.
- Houses and buildings account for 40% of the UK’s CO2 emissions, with a further 10% attributed to the construction industry.
- Half of UK energy demand is heat and over half of this is domestic.
It's up to all of us. There’s a real opportunity for homeowners, architects and builders to make a positive difference here. We all need to take responsibility for our own carbon and invest in improvements and installations that reduce energy consumption in our homes.
The good news is that it's getting much easier to do in the UK. With the rebirth of traditional techniques and some amazing new eco-products on the market, there’s never been a better time to create a sustainable home for you and your family.
But what about cost?
"There is much talk about the payback period of eco-technology. Analysing costs in this way is important, and the costs are really coming down, but it’s also helpful to think of the money spent as an investment. People do not think about the payback period of a new kitchen or bathroom, but look at it as adding value to a property. Eco-technology is now adding value to homes.
Homes are now labelled like fridges with certificates of energy performance, and people are taking notice. A recent survey by MORI found people are willing to pay up to £10,000 more for a home built to high environmental standards. If you look at annual savings on fuel bills, money spent on solar panels, for example, can produce tax free returns of 3-6% per annum. Eco-building makes economic sense.
And let's not forget that if we do not invest in the future of the planet now, we’re all done for anyway!"
Time for action
"At Footprint we firmly believe that we can make a difference. We refuse to wallow in the mire of depressing statistics. Many small changes add up to a big change. If we all take action now there is a chance that we can prevent further damage to our world."
Find out more
Find out more about Footprint's commitment to the environment or contact us for more information on green alternatives for your building project.
'Sustainable development = development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.' The Bruntland Report
