UK zero-carbon targets 'unrealistic'

Everyone is aware how the construction industry and building sector account for roughly half of all carbon emissions on the continent, and as such there is a big push toward renewable forms of design and construction as well as making existing buildings 'greener'. However in a survey will 7,000 property professionals, around three-quarters stated that they find current UK zero-carbon targets 'unrealistic'.

The government's current environmental targets, it seems, just don't hold water with the construction industry, unsurprising one might say as it is their market that needs to make the biggest changes.

The report, called "Hitting the Green Wall ... and Beyond", was undertaken by the British Property Federation, international law firm Taylor Wessing, and specialist research and communications consultancy Spada.

In the report, of the 7,000 people question 76 percent stated that the government's plans for making all new housing zero carbon by 2016 are unrealistic, while 73 percent believe plans to make new commercial property zero carbon by 2019 are unrealistic.

While this might be a blow to the new UK energy plan, the survey did reveal that many are convinced that the ‘stick' of regulation is most likely to drive progress in future, highlighting the need for closer industry-government collaboration.

Not just that, but in the wake of the recession, many felt that being sustainable was still very import with 68 percent of respondents saying that sustainability was either ‘very' or ‘highly' important.

The UK energy bill

It will be a blow to the UK coalition government, that is aiming to drastically overhaul current UK energy standards. This includes the creation of a green investment bank that would loan individual households the money to invest in carbon-reducing measures, including insulation.

Other initiatives planned for the new UK energy bill include measures to;

• Require energy companies to provide more information on energy bills in order to empower consumers and to ensure fair access to energy supplies.

• Regulate the carbon emissions from coal-fired power stations.

• Reform energy markets to deliver security of supply and ensure fair competition.

• Put in place a framework to guide the development of a smart grid that will revolutionise the management of supply and demand for electricity.

• Ensure that North Sea infrastructure is available to all companies to ease the exploitation of smaller and more difficult oil and gas fields.

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