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How Green will the UKGBC Really be?

Progress is being made on the fledgling UK Green Building Council. Various donors have pledged £30k each to the project. But there are fears that big businesses are buying their way in to the Council to gain influence. As BRE are initially running the UKGBC, it follows that they would use the same working model that BRE have used in the past.

There is concern in the green building industry that some businesses with little previous interest in the sector but who may have a vested interest in putting low cost options in front of the government when it comes to climate change issues are buying their way into influential positions. It seems that buildings and the building industry hold the key to climate change, as a large chunk of carbon emissions comes from our buildings.

But will these businesses put climate change and dealing with seriously ahead of profits? The range of businesses that have taken a stake in the UKGBC includes British Land Company plc, Canary Wharf Group plc, Hanson Building Products, International Business Events Ltd, King Sturge, Land Securities Group, Lend Lease Europe, Monodraught Ltd, Stanhope plc and Willmott Dixon Construction, among others.

Dr David Strong of BRE has defended these businesses by saying that all the attending representatives of the companies are passionate about the environment and are not frightened of tough new legislation, via the forthcoming Code for Sustainable Buildings which is set to replace Ecohomes. He says that many of the representatives at the meeting would be offended by the accusation that they have bought a stake in the Council, to steer it away from any real change.

This appears to be backed up by the lengthening list of multi-nationals pushing for more regulation in recent months. So are we in the green building movement being too cynical? The UKGBC donors say they’d like to: ‘Dramatically improve the built environment, develop and enhance the UK’s world class position in sustainable building design and transform the market for ‘sustainable’ products’.

This market orientated list of goals reads like a business model, but where’s the commitment to dramatically reduce carbon emissions? David Strong says its too early for this kind of strict target. He says the UKGBC will have a technical committee who will work out these details and that it’s not just about targets. It’s also about sourcing sustainable products and building materials, along with a whole load of other concerns, which will be figured out at a later date. They’d like to design sustainable buildings (new ones), bring older buildings into line, and ‘dramatically improve the built environment’.

The new council is confident it will have the £600,000 it needs in place by Spring 2007 for its official launch. The UKGBC is hoping to set up four key subgroups: Advocacy; Marketing; Technical issues; Education, training, best practice dissemination and research and hopes to attract professional institutions, trade associations and specialist interest groups to its ranks. Let’s hope more environmental groups get involved before it becomes the voice of the multinationals.

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