Wales leads the way with first green building charter
November 26, 2008
More than 40 organisations from the construction sector have agreed to sign a charter committing them to support progress towards low or zero carbon building.
Organisations such as the Federation of Master Builders, the National House-Building Council and the Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment have launched what is believed to be the first green building charter of its kind in the UK.
The initiative is being driven by the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG), the Design Commission for Wales and the Sustainable Development Commission.
From 2011, the WAG wants all new buildings to be zero carbon in providing heating, hot water and lighting. A Wales Low/Zero Carbon Hub will be set up to oversee progress on the charter's ambitions, which will have close working links with the UK Zero Carbon Hub and the UK Green Building Council.
The initiative was launched at the Built Environment and Climate Change Summit at the Wales Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, by Environment, Sustainability and Housing Minister Jane Davidson and Jonathon Porritt, Chairman of the Sustainable Development Commission.
The coalition will play a major role in the development of low/zero carbon buildings ahead of the UK Government's target of achieving zero carbon new homes by 2016.
It will also work towards significantly increasing the energy efficiency of the existing building stock in Wales, contributing towards the Welsh target of 3% annual reductions in emission reductions from 2011 onwards.
The Assembly Government have stated the aspiration that all new buildings built from 2011 must be zero carbon in relation to space heating, hot water and lighting. By implementing the Code for Sustainable Homes and BREEAM it will help the industry take a systematic approach towards the target of zero carbon.
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