Both builders and owners of commercial and residential buildings in the UK property market are feeling the pressure to meet tough new environmental standards. However, the government?s newest ?green? initiative also comes with incentives.
Mirror.co.uk has reported that the government is aiming to achieve a 25 per cent reduction of CO2 emissions from buildings using domestic energy, with internal potable water use being limited to 105 litres per person per day.
According to John Cave from building materials distributor EH Smith, the government is also aiming to include social housing in its focus, by requiring a 44 per cent reduction in CO2 by 2012 from these properties. The final aim for all residential property market is zero carbon emissions by 2016.
The initiative is also recognising that commercial properties are major culprits when it comes to carbon emissions. Owners of such properties will soon have access to a white paper that outlines government legislation and incentives to achieve a greener commercial sector.
In order to explain the purpose and contents of the white paper, space and infrastructure company Portal recently published a press release. Portal?s managing director, John Gotley, said: ?The aim of the research paper is to act as an introductory guide to help commercial property professionals understand the significance of sustainability for new or existing buildings.?
As for residential property owners in England, Scotland and Wales, the government is offering financial incentives to generate low-carbon electricity. The Department of Energy and Climate Changed noted that citizens could earn up to ?900 for solar panel use while saving up to ?140 on their energy bills.
