Prime Minister Theresa May vowed to halve the energy use from new buildings by 2030, as part of a speech that championed the role that science and technology will play in delivering the Government’s Industrial Strategy. Appearing at the Jodrell Bank observatory complex in Cheshire on Monday (22 May), the Prime Minister challenged the construction industry to embrace innovation and deliver higher standards to meet the new 2030 target, which will also reduce household energy bills and help with national carbon targets, according to May. “We will use new technologies and modern construction practices to at least halve the energy usage of new buildings by 2030. By making our buildings more energy efficient and embracing smart technologies, we can slash household energy bills, reduce demand for energy, and meet our targets for carbon reduction.” As part of the “clean growth and grand challenge mission”, the UK Government will also aim to halve the energy costs for the existing building stock – both domestically and commercially. Heat and power for buildings currently account for 40% of national energy usage. May noted that the Industrial Strategy would act as a “catalyst for new technologies” that could then be exported to a “global market for clean technologies”. Commenting on the announcement, the UK Green Building Council’s (UKGBC) Julie Hirigoyen said: “Addressing the energy used in new and existing buildings will be central to delivering clean growth and can only be achieved with strong leadership from Government working in close partnership with the industry.
Edie 22nd May 2018 read more »