Government must make carbon emission plans 'clearer'

ePolitix.com speaks to Keith Riddle at VELUX about carbon neutral homes, sustainability and the challenges facing the construction industry.

Question: How can the government better encourage people to change their behaviour to reduce carbon emissions?

Keith Riddle: Governments can contribute through education and regulation. Education supports and drives a general shift in consumer awareness of the importance of reducing carbon emissions – think of safety campaigns in relation to drink-driving and how government education helped a shift in social attitude. In an environment where the underlying sentiment is favourable, regulation can play an important role in driving change through engaging a wide range of organisations in delivery. In the construction industry, regulation would engage specifiers, builders and the manufacturing supply chain to deliver solutions which education had created the demand for. Regulation need not attempt to cover an entire market; for example, regulation of a sector such as new build, can kick-start provision that is then available across the whole market.

Question: Do you believe there is general awareness among the public about the benefits of energy efficient measures?

Keith Riddle: There is undoubtedly a high level of general interest in the whole area of sustainability and a growing awareness of the role our buildings play in carbon emissions. However, there is also a great deal of confusion and a lack of clarity over what measures are best adopted. Renewable energy in particular, as a relatively new area for most homeowners, is problematic. For example, consider the media coverage in relation to micro-wind turbines, which ranged from advertising from major retailers on availability to press coverage of issues related to planning permission and questionable energy contributions. Is it any wonder people are confused? There is a demand for simple, straightforward advice in an accessible format – from turning down thermostats to improving insulation to installing solar thermal systems – which is not currently being delivered.

Question: How has the renewable energy industry responded to the increased demand for new eco-technologies? Do you think the industry is growing fast enough to meet government targets?

Keith Riddle: Industry response is accelerating. Renewables is slowly moving from a "cottage industry" of small organisations, dealing mainly with committed and well-informed eco-consumers, to a mainstream industry utilising traditional mass marketing approaches. We now have solar panels advertised on TV by household names, for example. However, greater clarity on the macro position is needed – major oil companies pulling out of renewable energy projects do not inspire confidence in other organisations and send a distinctly mixed signal to consumers. The government has a role to play in making it clearer to industry and individuals what the integrated plan is to achieve commitments made to reduce carbon emissions. Without that clarity, the major investments needed to transform the market will be harder to secure.

Question: What are the main challenges facing the construction industry in designing carbon neutral homes in line with government targets?

Keith Riddle: There would be two main areas to consider. Linked to the above point, there is a need for an integrated approach. So the aim of making a home carbon neutral should not necessarily be considered only from a site or micro level approach if that creates issues of sub-scale inefficiency. For example, photovoltaic panels at the level of an individual home will be vastly less efficient than electricity generation from a renewable source such as major wind turbine installations. Secondly, there is a need for a holistic approach to design which takes account of the quality of the living space created in balance with its energy efficiency. Partly because we know that it is relatively easy to create highly insulated, air-tight homes, but these can lead to an increase in respiratory illnesses and various allergies – as the Scandinavians discovered in the 1980s. This is partly because people like to live in homes which deliver a sense of light and space. Ultimately the route for the industry to achieve the government targets is to build carbon neutral homes that people actually want to live in.

Question: How will re-skilling in the sustainable trades and the green jobs revolution help in the current economic climate?

Keith Riddle: In general, higher levels of skills are associated with greater economic benefit and so there is a basic belief that such skills will add value to the overall economy. In the present context, that is even more vital than would normally be the case. Individuals who acquire those skills are likely to possess abilities which will remain valuable for many years to come and have a growing range of applications. For example, a plumber or roofer who can handle solar installations as well as the currently common parts of their profession will open opportunities to deal with large numbers of customers for many years to come, both in new build situations and in the far greater potential market for upgrading existing properties. The availability of experienced trade professionals with the knowledge and confidence to advise customers is a critical factor in the expansion of the renewable energy market, creating a virtuous cycle of expanding supply to meet expanding demand. If, as part of the fiscal stimulus package, the government chooses to encourage the uptake of renewable energies to help boost that cycle, with the associated benefit in carbon emissions reductions over many years to come, then the availability of these skills is a key need.