Sustainable construction plans ''should address existing property''

Written by Robert Shields.

The government should work to ensure that the country''s existing commercial properties are made energy efficient, it is believed.

While noting the positive impact that ministers'' proposals to encourage more sustainable construction could have when it comes to future building projects, the British Property Federation''s Patrick Brown also believes that the country''s present properties are important.

Mr Brown, the body''s assistant director for sustainability, commented: ''The majority of buildings with us now will still be in use in 50 years'' time and side-stepping the difficult questions will cause us more problems in the long term.''

According to the BPF, a number of the UK''s large property firms would support the introduction of display energy certificates to cover all real estate properties.

Earlier this month, the UK Green Building Council suggested that by 2020, the country''s built environment should aim to reduce the amount of carbon it produces by as much as 50 per cent.