Sustainable living dialogue

The Climate Change Act 2008 means that the UK has a legally binding target to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2050. In order to achieve this target, households will need to reach near zero-carbon levels of emissions.

Experience has shown that 'living with low energy' requires a significant shift in lifestyle patterns and behaviour. The carbon footprint from homes is largely a result of the need to keep warm. Heat accounts for a significant proportion of the UK’s energy demand and improvements to energy efficiency measures in the home will play an important part in reducing carbon emissions.

The dialogue explores the need for environmentally conscious design and build in the housing sector.

You can listen to the podcast of the roundtable here.

Chair:

Sally Dawson, Special Projects Editor, The House Magazine

Attendees:

Kevin Brennan, Head of Sustainability, VELUX

Dr Peter Christie, Assistant Director, Renewables & Energy Innovation Unit, Department of Energy and Climate Change

Funda Dias, Policy Advisor on Sustainable Construction, Department of Food and Rural Affairs

Jim Dobbin MP (Lab), Heywood and Middleton, Member, Communities and Local

Helen Eveleigh, Policy Advisor – Sustainable Buildings, Sustainable Development Commission

Jill Goldsmith, Director, Energy and Climate Change & Environmental Sustainability, National Audit Office

Patrick Hall MP (Lab), Bedford, Member, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

Philip Hollobone MP (Con), Kettering

Martin Horwood MP (Lib Dem), Cheltenham, Liberal Democrat Environment Spokesperson

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, Minister of State and Government Spokesperson, Departments for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and of Energy and Climate Change

Martin Linton MP (Lab), Battersea

Gerry Murray, Chief Executive, DODS

Keith Riddle, Managing Director, VELUX

Lindsay Roy MP (Lab), Glenrothes

Paul Rowen MP (Lib Dem), Rochdale, Liberal Democrat Shadow Minister for Work and Pensions

Alan Simpson MP (Lab), Nottingham South, Chair All-Party Warm Homes Group

Gisela Stuart MP (Lab), Birmingham Edgbaston, Editor, The House Magazine

Photos

Copyright Paul Heartfield 2009