Building a green policy

Being green begins at home. That is what environmentalists and, increasingly businesses, are arguing must be the case if the risk of dangerous climate change is to be reduced.

Housing is not the most controversial contributor to climate change, compared to transport, but it is one of the most significant sectors. Buildings use around one-third of the world’s energy. If current trends continue, there could be a 45% increase in households’ energy consumption by 2025.

There are numerous plans afoot to create a climate in which the energy efficiency of a building is as important as the bricks and mortar. A sustainable home is one that has reduced impact on the environment, in terms of energy, water and materials and helps its residents to lead a green lifestyle. The last point is important. A housing estate with no bus routes or bottle banks is not going to win any awards from environmentalists, even if its timber is sourced from sustainable forests.

But currently, the market does not reward investors who build in this way. Bill Sisson, director of sustainability at United Technologies Corporation and head of the World Business Council on Sustainable Development’s energy efficiency in buildings project, explains that there are several barriers to sustainable buildings. Governments have different policies, codes and standards on housing, while banks and lending institutions do not put enough value on sustainable development so that there are few incentives to build or renovate for greener homes and offices.

Last year, the World Business Council on Sustainable Develop-ment announced a global energy efficient buildings project. The council is an influential group. When UK Prime Minister Tony Blair wanted a business voice at the G8 summit in 2005 he invited it along. The council hopes to persuade other businesses to sign up to more stringent energy efficiency standards. Through a project on energy efficient buildings, it hopes to create a business climate that favours housing with zero-net emissions, thus enabling a fall in the contribution of housing emissions to 2002 levels by 2050. The project covers the entire life-cycle of a building, so sustainability must be considered from the architect’s drawing board to the recycling skip. A diverse range of businesses, from utilities such as Gaz de France to Lafarge, a building materials firm, are on board.

But perhaps the most challenging part will be selling their recommendations to other businesses and governments.

Some European governments are taking action.

In the UK, WWF, the environmental group, began a campaign in 2002 to lift the business and policy barriers to sustainable homes. Last year, the British government published a code for sustainable homes, which will form the basis of future building regulations. Jo Wheeler, a policy officer at WWF, said the UK was catching up with its neighbours, such as Germany and Sweden, which already have "passive energy" standards to reduce energy consumption.

The EU already has directives on minimum standards for buildings and is looking to expand their scope. The European Commission energy efficiency action plan last October listed buildings as a priority for efficiency improvements. Recently, attention has been focused on encouraging businesses and consumers to be more energy-conscious occupiers of buildings. The Commission’s green paper on energy proposes tightening eco-standards of household appliances. At this month’s spring summit, the Council of Ministers also decided to phase out old-fashioned light bulbs, which policymakers reckon costs billions of eurosin higher domestic fuel bills.

But if emissions from housing are to be tackled, policymakers also need to look to developing countries. Around 50% of the world’s new buildings are being put up in India and China. This underlines a well-worn truth about going green - local and global action go together.

Being green begins at home. That is what environmentalists and, increasingly businesses, are arguing must be the case if the risk of dangerous climate change is to be reduced.