Brown backs Building a Greener Britain campaign

Prime minister Gordon Brown has backed the Federation of Master Builder's (FMB) Building a Greener Britain campaign.

The campaign is designed to create a safe, sustainable and practical construction industry through a number of methods.

These include acknowledging a need to minimise waste across the industry; reduce carbon emissions from housing; innovation in materials and process; and create sustainable communities and a sustainable work force.

In this way, the FMB hopes to reduce the 47 per cent of emissions that are produced by the UK's housing stock, in an attempt to assist the government in meeting its target of reducing carbon emissions by 60 per cent by 2050.

This campaign has previously been endorsed by Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg and the leader of the opposition David Cameron.

Now Labour leader Gordon Brown has added his weight to the initiative.

"I am pleased to see such positive and pro-active work being undertaken by the FMB," said Mr Brown.

"I welcome the contribution your campaign will make to support the building industry to build and retrofit homes to higher environmental standards, while highlighting the important contribution the construction industry can have in supporting our efforts to tackle climate change.

"I wish the FMB well with their campaign," he added.

The Building a Greener Britain research is being undertaken by the Low Carbon Futures team at the Oxford University Environmental Change Institute.

It is being lead by Gavin Killip, one of the authors of the 40 per cent House report, and Dr Nick Eyre, former director of strategy at the Energy Saving Trust (EST).

"We are pleased the prime minister has added his support to the Building a Greener Britain campaign," said Brian Berry, director of external affairs at the FMB.

"Mr Brown is right to highlight the important contribution that the construction industry can have in helping to tackle climate change.

"Our forthcoming research will outline a series of recommendations to government and the construction sector designed to help householders to make their homes greener and more energy efficient."

Chris O'Toole