Wednesday 11 September 2013

£150m efficiency boost for UK construction industry

The Government has pledged that up to £150 million will be invested in the UK construction industry to help develop more energy efficient buildings.

The Technology Strategy Board (TSB) will invest £60 million over the next five years to support the design and development of buildings which use less energy. The Government expects the figure to be matched by the private sector and another £30 million in extra funding to come from across government and other agencies.

The programme is expected to help achieve the nation’s target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2025.

Business Secretary Vince Cable said the UK’s new and existing buildings must adjust to a low carbon economy.

He added: “The construction industry contributes almost £90 billion to the UK economy and supports around three million jobs. We are well placed to take advantage of new and emerging energy efficient technologies, commercialise them and then export them across the world.”

The news comes after the government announced rules for all new houses and buildings in England to have energy saving features earlier this year.

The TSB has invested £83 million in low carbon buildings over the last five years through the Low Impact Buildings Innovation Platform.