New government new challenges for the industry?

Lynsey Rose Masora interviews Lorely Burt MP, Martin Chambers and Alun Thorne to get a clearer picture of this sector's future since the Coalition began.

Additional Information

Diversity

see the Green Budget 2009 of government here

Glossary

BREEAM (BRE Environmental Assessment Method)

sets the standard for best practice in sustainable design and has become the de facto measure used to describe any building's environmental performance (old or new)

Code for Sustainable Homes

measures sustainability of a new home against categories of sustainable design, implemented since May 2008 and used to set mandatory targets (e.g. all new homes to be Code 6 by 2016)

HCS

Homes and Communities Agency

Retrofit / Refurbishment

terms used for the improvement of existing buildings to achieve better sustainability standards

Passive Design

design approach that uses natural elements, often sunlight, to heat, cool or light a building.

RSL

Registered Social Landlord

Zero Carbon

a building is considered to be ‘zero carbon’ when the net carbon dioxide emissions resulting from all energy used in the building is zero. Refer to the publication “Code for Sustainable Homes Technical Guidance”.