Dr David Strong calls for green buildings to factor in social and economic sustainability

Founder of the UK Green Building Council, Dr David Strong, has warned that the zero carbon agenda is at risk of ignoring social and economic sustainability.

The chief executive of Inbuild Consulting said the neglect of other sustainability factors could lead to perverse results.

While speaking at London’s EcoBuild conference, he called for a reality check and a change towards whole system thinking.

“I am a strong supporter of zero and low carbon buildings,” Strong said. “The drive towards zero carbon is very important – it has had a powerful effect in galvanising the UK housebuilding and property development community and in stimulating innovation.

"But there is much more to delivering exemplary built environments than zero carbon.”

Strong also reminded housing minister Caroline Flint that the promised inter-departmental government review and strategic plan for improving the energy performance of the UK’s existing building stock needed to be realised.

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