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