Sustainable construction ''can help lower domestic carbon emissions''

Written by Robert Shields.

The built environment has a key role to play when it comes to reducing the country''s carbon emissions, it has been suggested.

Paul King, the UK Green Building Council''s (UKGBC) chief executive, believes that this sector should aim to lower the volume of carbon it emits by as much as 50 per cent over the next 11 years.

Mr King suggested that this target could be achieved through collaboration between the construction industry and ministers.

He commented: ''Taking on this challenge would create thousands of new jobs, boosting the UK economy and supporting our recovery.

''It would benefit business and consumers by reducing their energy costs.''

Mr King was speaking at the UKGBC''s recent annual conference, which took place earlier in the week.

Meanwhile, John Healey, the government''s housing minister, has also recently suggested that new UK homes may need to be built using more sustainable construction methods.