Sustainable living dialogue
The Climate Change Act 2008 means that the UK has a legally binding target to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2050. In order to achieve this target, households will need to reach near zero-carbon levels of emissions.
Experience has shown that 'living with low energy' requires a significant shift in lifestyle patterns and behaviour. The carbon footprint from homes is largely a result of the need to keep warm. Heat accounts for a significant proportion of the UK’s energy demand and improvements to energy efficiency measures in the home will play an important part in reducing carbon emissions.
The dialogue explores the need for environmentally conscious design and build in the housing sector.
There is also a growing trend for low energy home design that has the potential to create significant ill health issues, particularly in connection with poor indoor air quality. Energy efficiency and housing policy must reflect this concern and ensure there are no inadvertent problems created around health standards.
We held two round tables, the first on March 3 2009 and the second on June 10 2009.
June 10 2009
Chair:
Gisela Stuart MP (Lab), Birmingham Edgbaston, Editor, The House Magazine
Attendees:
Dr Nick Baker, Department of Architecture, University of Cambridge
Kevin Brennan, Head of Sustainability, VELUX
Ben Derbyshire, Managing Director, HTA Architects
Lizzie Chatterjee, Policy Advisor – Sustainable Buildings, Sustainable Development Commission
Tracy Gordon, Manager - Carbon Challenge & Millennium Communities, Homes and Communities Agency
Dr Richard Hobday MSc PhD, Department of Architectural Studies, University of Wales Institute, Cardiff
Baroness Masham of Ilton (Crossbench), Chair, All-Party Health Group
Peter Matthew, Deputy Director, Home Buying and Selling Unit and Energy Performance Unit, Department of Communities and Local Government
Keith Riddle, Managing Director, VELUX
Andrew Robathan MP (Con), Opposition Deputy Chief Whip
Lindsay Roy MP (Lab), Glenrothes
Alan Simpson MP (Lab), Chair All-Party Warm Homes Group
Photos from June 10 2009
Copyright Paul Heartfield 2009
March 3 2009
Podcast of the March 3 roundtable
Chair:
Sally Dawson, Special Projects Editor, The House Magazine
Attendees:
Kevin Brennan, Head of Sustainability, VELUX
Dr Peter Christie, Assistant Director, Renewables & Energy Innovation Unit, Department of Energy and Climate Change
Funda Dias, Policy Advisor on Sustainable Construction, Department of Food and Rural Affairs
Jim Dobbin MP (Lab), Heywood and Middleton, Member, Communities and Local
Helen Eveleigh, Policy Advisor – Sustainable Buildings, Sustainable Development Commission
Jill Goldsmith, Director, Energy and Climate Change & Environmental Sustainability, National Audit Office
Patrick Hall MP (Lab), Bedford, Member, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Philip Hollobone MP (Con), Kettering
Martin Horwood MP (Lib Dem), Cheltenham, Liberal Democrat Environment Spokesperson
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, Minister of State and Government Spokesperson, Departments for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and of Energy and Climate Change
Martin Linton MP (Lab), Battersea
Gerry Murray, Chief Executive, DODS
Keith Riddle, Managing Director, VELUX
Lindsay Roy MP (Lab), Glenrothes
Paul Rowen MP (Lib Dem), Rochdale, Liberal Democrat Shadow Minister for Work and Pensions
Alan Simpson MP (Lab), Nottingham South, Chair All-Party Warm Homes Group
Gisela Stuart MP (Lab), Birmingham Edgbaston, Editor, The House Magazine
Photos from March 3 2009
Copyright Paul Heartfield 2009
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