Buyers should be given ‘larger mortgages on greener homes’

Homebuyers could get bigger mortgages if the energy efficiency of properties were part of the lending criteria of banks and building societies. That’s according to new government-funded research, which found while 90% of mortgage lenders use cost data from the Office of National Statistics, which include fuel bill data, no known affordability calculation takes direct […]

New Innovation Lab for built environment launched

A new programme to accelerate innovation in the UK’s built environment has been launched. The UK Green Building Council’s (UK-GBC) first ‘Innovation Lab’ aims to identify and address systemic challenges facing businesses within the sector and co-create innovative and highly sustainable solutions. It is part of its mission to radically improve the sustainability of the […]

UK homebuilders ranked on sustainability

Property and infrastructure company Lendlease has been ranked as the most sustainable firm in the construction sector. That’s according to the NextGeneration report, an annual benchmark which addresses the sustainability performance of the 25 largest homebuilders in the UK. It points out Lendlease’s commitment to sustainability with projects such as The Timberyard in Deptford and […]

UK Green Building Council launches project on energy performance

The UK Green Building Council (UK-GBC) has launched a new research to explore how building performance can be improved. It will focus on energy consumption, water use and other aspects which impact the environment. It follows an previous project which looked at how the building sector could deliver a zero carbon policy for non-domestic buildings by 2019. […]

Julie Hirigoyen new UK Green Building Council boss

Julie Hirigoyen is taking up the reins of the industry-backed charity UK Green Building Council (UKGBC). Currently UK Head of Sustainability for international property consultants JLL, she will replace outgoing Chief Executive Paul King in April 2015. Director of Policy and Communications John Alker will hold the fort until then, as King steps down at […]

DECC urged to set energy efficiency standard for private landlords

More than 30 organisations are calling on the Government to set a minimum energy efficiency standard for private rented homes across the UK. They suggest regulations must be introduced “without delay” to give certainty to landlords and tenants in an effort to slash energy bills and cut carbon emissions. The Government had been expected to […]

Barker offers cash in a day for Green Deal insulation

Energy Minister Greg Barker said consumers will soon be able to get cash for installing energy efficiency measures within a day in a bid to boost uptake. Speaking at the UK Green Building Council’s launch of its Green Deal report, he said the biggest barrier to getting insulation is finance and that DECC is working […]

‘Lower Green Deal interest rate to make it more attractive’

The UK Government is being urged to lower the interest rate for the Green Deal to make it more attractive to consumers. The call from the UK Green Building Council (GBC) comes a year after the launch of the Government’s flagship energy efficiency policy which has suffered low take-up. Although more than 100,000 assessments have […]

MPs urge government not to scrap green homes code

The Government should reconsider its plans to axe the Code for Sustainable Homes in the UK, MPs have warned. The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has been consulting on plans to scrap the sustainable homes policy as part of its efforts to cut red tape in the house building industry. It suggested getting […]