News
FMB discuss 'Building a Greener Britain' with the Scottish Liberal Democrats
Richard Hyslop, FMB Public Affairs Manager and Grahame Barn, Director of FMB Scotland, met with Mr Jim Tolson MSP, Liberal Democrat Housing Spokesman in the Scottish Parliament to discuss the FMB's 'Building A Greener Britain-Transforming Britain's Housing Stock' (PDF 3MB). Mr Tolson was very keen to meet with the FMB to find out more about the report's recommendations and to see how the Scottish Liberal Democrats could work with the FMB in this important area. Mr Tolson was particularly interested in the proposal to cut VAT from 17.5 per cent to five per cent for all building repair and maintenance work.
Builders and roofers promote sustainability in Parliament
On Wednesday Richard Hyslop, FMB Public Affairs Manager and Gavin Killip from the Oxford University Lower Carbon Futures Team were invited to a meeting of the All-party Parliamentary Group on the Roofing Industry. This group if run by the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC). The NFRC had invited us to talk about our research report, 'Building A Greener Britain-Transforming Britain's Housing Stock' (PDF 3MB), commissioned by the FMB from the Environment Change Institute at Oxford University. The NFRC are very supportive of much of what this report has to say and are very keen to work with the FMB in providing a united voice from the construction industry on this important issue. The meeting was attended by a number of politicians including: Stephen O'Brien MP, Lord Glentoran CBE DL, Lord Davies of Coity CBE and Andrew Stunnell MP.
Green Housing Upgrades Would Create £3.5 Billion Market for Builders, says Oxford University
Building firms, product manufacturers and suppliers could stand to tap into a new market worth between £3.5 and £6.5 billion per year if the UK developed policies, skills programmes, and financial incentives to upgrade our existing housing stock to make it greener and more energy efficient. In addition a refurbished housing stock would help reduce escalating household energy bills as well as making a real difference to climate change. These are the startling conclusions from a new research report, 'Building A Greener Britain-Transforming Britain's Housing Stock' (PDF 3MB), commissioned by the Federation of Mater Builders (FMB) from the Environmental Change Institute, at Oxford University.
The FMB's campaign, 'Building A Greener Britain', which is endorsed by the Prime Minister, David Cameron MP, and Nick Clegg MP, is about how best the building sector can work with other stakeholders including government to bring about a low carbon built environment. The new research carried out by Gavin Killip sets out a series of practical recommendations about what needs to be done to promote the refurbishment of the existing 26 million homes in this country to make them greener and more energy efficient.
The report argues that the Government needs to make a commitment now to upgrade our existing homes to make them greener. The Government needs to start a process of innovation, skills development, and capacity building in the construction industry that is consistent with its aim to cut carbon emissions by 80 per cent by 2050.
The report's recommendations include:
- New government housing policy to demonstrate its commitment to low-carbon refurbishment of existing homes, so that manufacturers and suppliers can invest with confidence in the development of the necessary supply chains
- Cut VAT from 17.5 per cent to 5 per cent on housing refurbishment across the UK as soon as possible.
- Introduce Council Tax rebates to promote energy efficient homes
- Introduce a feed-in tariff to stimulate greater uptake of micro-generation technologies
- Review of Energy Performance Certificates to improve accuracy and reliability
- Energy efficient work to be carried out at the same time as other refurbishment work.
Gavin Killip from Oxford University and author of the report said:
"UK housing is among the worst in Europe when it comes to energy efficiency - which means there's plenty of room for improvement. Bringing British homes up to standard is possible using existing technology but the skills and industry base to deliver the necessary change is under-developed. Making low-carbon housing mainstream will be good for business and good for jobs, as well as reducing energy bills and CO2 emissions."
Richard Diment, Director-General of the FMB said:
"The research clearly demonstrates the need for the Government to urgently formulate a clear decisive housing policy to upgrade Britain's existing home if we are to have any chance of cutting carbon emissions by 80 per cent. FMB wants to work in partnership with the Government because only by working together can we refurbish Britain's homes to make them greener and more energy efficient. Given that existing homes contribute 27 per cent of the UK's total carbon emissions and that 4.5 million families are living in fuel poverty there is really no time or excuses left to delay action."
Diment continued:
"What is particularly encouraging for builders is that at a time when the building sector is suffering a downturn as a result of the credit crunch there is a potential new market of several billion pounds every year. This is good news all round not only for builders but also for homeowners who want warmer houses, and for meeting the UK's environmental commitments to cut carbon emissions. All we need now is the political will!"
FMB meets with Select Committee Chairman
Brian Berry, FMB Director of External Affairs, Richard Hyslop, FMB Public Affairs Manager and Gavin Killip from the Oxford University Lower carbon Futures Team, met with Dr Phyllis Starkey MP, Chairman of the House of Commons Communities and Local Government, to discuss the FMB's Building a Greener Britain Campaign. Dr Starkey's committee had only very recently published their own report entitled 'Existing Housing and Climate Change'. As the FMB's campaign is very relevant to this report and the work of her committee, Dr Starkey was very keen to meet with the FMB to find out more.
The meeting was particularly useful for Gavin Killip as it allowed him the chance to talk through some of ideas with Dr Starkey and gave him an opportunity to benefit from Dr Starkey's vast knowledge and experience in this area.
FMB at the Scottish Parliament
The FMB hosted a round table discussion at the Scottish Parliament looking at their Building a Greener Britain Campaign. Present at the discussion were Brian Berry, FMB Director of External Affairs, Richard Hyslop, FMB Public Affairs Manager and Gavin Killip from the Oxford University Lower carbon Futures Team, Grahame Barn, Director of FMB Scotland, Robin Harper MSP (Green),former Government Minister Tavis Scott MSP (Liberal Democrat), Mary Scanlon MSP (Conservative) and former Government Minster Johann Lamont.
FMB at the Northern Ireland Assembly
Brian Berry, FMB Director of External Affairs, Richard Hyslop, FMB Public Affairs Manager and Gavin Killip from the Oxford University Lower carbon Futures Team, met with Patsy McGlone MLA, Chairman of the Northern Ireland Assembly Environment Committee. Mr McGlone had invited the FMB to meet with him so that he could learn more about the FMB's Building a Greener Britain campaign and to see how the FMB can work with his committee and the wider Northern Ireland Assembly in helping them formulate their thinking with regard to carbon emissions from existing buildings. This was a very positive meeting and Mr McGlone has invited the FMB to meet with him again once Gavin Killip has produced his research later this year.
FMB talks with former Construction Minister
Brian Berry, FMB External Affairs Director, Richard Hyslop, FMB Public Affairs Manager and Gavin Killip from the Oxford University Lower Carbon Futures Team, met with The Rt. Hon Nick Raynsford MP to discuss the FMB's Building a Greener Britain campaign. As well as being construction minister from 1997 - 2001, Nick Raynsford is also President of the National Home Improvement Council, President of the Construction Industry Council and is President of the Labour Housing Group; he therefore has a huge amount of experience in the field of housing and construction.
The meeting was particularly useful for Gavin Killip as it allowed him the chance to talk through some of ideas with Nick Raynsford and gave him an opportunity to benefit from Nick Raynsford's vast knowledge and experience in this area.
FMB at the Welsh Assembly
Brian Berry, FMB Director of External Affairs, Richard Hyslop, FMB Public Affairs Manager and Gavin Killip from the Oxford University Lower carbon Futures Team, met with Jane Davidson AM, Minister for Sustainability and Housing within the Welsh Assembly Government.
The Minister had invited the FMB to meet with her so that she could learn more about the FMB's Building a Greener Britain campaign and to see how the FMB can work with the Welsh Assembly Government in helping them meet their ambitious environmental targets. This was a very positive meeting and The Minister has invited the FMB to sit on a new Welsh Sustainable Development Commission being launched next month.
Oxford University and the FMB to research incentives for green homes
With homes responsible for 27% of the UK's total carbon emissions and the current Government target to cut carbon emissions by 60% by 2050, the FMB has appointed Oxford University to look at what incentives are needed to encourage householders to make their homes more energy efficient and greener. The research will be carried out by Gavin Killip, author of the 40% House report, and Dr Nick Eyre, former Director of Strategy at the Energy Saving Trust, of the Oxford University Environmental Change Institute.
Brian Berry, Director of External Affairs at the FMB said, "We are delighted that Oxford University has agreed to work with us on this important issue. The Government talks about creating a greener Britain but it is short on practical solutions. Our research is intended to fill the policy vacuum and deliver a series of practical recommendations to turn the political rhetoric into reality."
Berry continued, "What is particularly encouraging is that Gavin Killip, who is carrying out the research, has already put the theory into practice and made energy efficiency improvements to his own home, resulting in a 50% reduction in CO2 emissions. We need to roll this success out right across the country if we are to have any chance of moving towards a low carbon built environment."
The FMB will launch report's findings in June 2008.