Source: Regen Daily

A report released this week by the UK Green Building Council (UK-GBC) – made up of businesses that claim to engage in sustainable construction – is calling for a code to cover new and existing non-domestic buildings.

In 2008, the Government introduced the Code for Sustainable Homes to drive up environmental standards in housebuilding, but it only covers domestic premises.

As well as setting out targets covering carbon, energy, waste and water efficiency, the code would require all new and existing buildings to undergo environmental impact performance checks at regular intervals.

Chief executive at the UK-GBC Paul King said: At the moment the practical delivery and management of sustainable buildings is being held up by a confusing myriad of different sustainability policies, regulations, tools and standards. The Code for Sustainable Buildings should establish one clear policy and regulatory trajectory towards a sustainable built environment.

John Frankiewicz, chief executive at housebuilder Willmott Dixon and task force member said: [It] does not seek to re-invent the wheel but instead builds on the existing codes and regulations we have to fill in the gaps and cover the whole life of a building.