John Alker at #GVis2013

1. Green building:
the policy context
John Alker, Director of Policy &
Communications
@johnalker
john.alker@ukgbc.org

2. Remember this?

3. Key points
• GOVERNMENT IS A COALITION OF
COALITIONS
• PROGRESSIVE POLICY-MAKING IS A
STRUGGLE
• LABOUR ARE DOING WHAT OPPOSITIONS
DO
• GREEN IS BECOMING MORE POLITICAL –
BUT THAT’S NOT NECESSARILY A GOOD
THING...

4. We’re in a battle

7. Key points
• GOVERNMENT IS INFLUENCED BY
EXTERNAL OPINION – NOT SURPRISING
THERE ARE CONTRADICTIONS IN POLICY
• PROGRESSIVE BUSINESSES NEED TO LEAD
PUBLIC OPINION, NOT FOLLOW
• THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK
ABOUT GREEN AND GROWTH TOGETHER
• BUSINESS GROUPS NEED TO SPEAK WITH
ONE VOICE

8. Key demands
1. Long term structural incentives to encourage home energy efficiency,
including ‘consequential improvements’
2. Ring-fenced retrofit programme for public buildings, funded by a
combination of the £1.5bn annual government departmental underspend
and other innovative finance mechanisms such as Energy Performance
Contracting.
3. Stick to the commitment for all new homes and all new non-domestic
buildings to be zero carbon from 2016 and 2019 respectively; and
urgently clarify both the interim steps required through Part L and
Allowable Solutions.
4. Boost energy saving in commercial buildings by improving DECs and
extending them to all buildings; and provide urgent clarity on the
obligations in the Energy Act 2011 to phase out the letting of poorer
performing buildings.
5. Encourage long-term investment in green infrastructure and improve
confidence in the supply chain by enabling the Green Investment Bank
to borrow now, and providing greater clarity on the future for low
carbon energy generation.

9. • Part L: May
• Housing Standards Review: May
• Green Deal plan numbers: June
• Allowable solutions: July
• Energy audits: Summer
• RHI: Summer
• MEPs: Autumn
Coming up thick and fast

10. Final thoughts
• LEADERSHIP
• COLLABORATION
• EVIDENCE SHARING
• EDUCATION
• ADVOCACY

11. Green building:
the policy context
John Alker, Director of Policy &
Communications
@johnalker
john.alker@ukgbc.org