Builders helping to reach carbon targets in homes

A report, called Building a Sustainable Future, identifies the Berkeley Group, Taylor Wimpey, Countryside Properties and Crest Nicholson as the best performing companies in the UK.

Produced by NextGeneration - a partnership between environmental pressure group WWF-UK, Insight Investment and The Housing Corporation - the report shows the 20 companies responsible for building more than half of all new homes in the UK last year have recognised the importance of sustainability.

One of the key elements of the survey was how well they were addressing the need to make all new homes zero-carbon by 2016.

That aim is part of the Government's target to reduce greenhouse gas emission by 20 per cent by 2020 and make even greater inroads by 2050.

Of the top 20 homebuilders studied for the report:

* 70 per cent report publicly on their approach to sustainability;

* 65 per cent have waste management strategies;

* 60 per cent have set targets to improve energy efficiency of homes.

However, the report's authors said that is a large gap between where the industry is and where it needs to be.

Simon McWhirter, WWF's homes campaign director, said: "If the UK is to meet its emission reduction targets by 2050, it's vital that homebuilders step up to the environmental challenges they face, particularly as our homes currently account for 27 per cent of the UK's carbon emissions.

"Although the industry is responding well, progress is still far too slow.

"Longer term, more focused plans to tackle climate change must be implemented immediately to rein in the environmental impact of our homes.

"WWF wants to see all homes meeting their environmental potential by 2016."

Housebuilders have been working hard to develop ways of reducing environmental impact.

As reported in Business Echo on July 17, initiatives include measures such as solar panels, better water efficiency and heat insulation, and housing estates which encourage walking and cycling by residents.