Government Fails Again

Building Magazine carries a report this morning on the findings of the National Audit Office following their review of government's management of their own stock of buildings.

The report has following findings:

• Setting sustainable standards for the construction and refurbishment of buildings that were not being met


• Failing to carry out environmental assessments and failing to achieve the required standards.


• Over 2005 and 2006, only 9% of projects achieved the required standard.


• Failing to meet its own carbon reduction target.

The report suggests a lack of management and understanding of the correlation between sustainability and whole life cycle costs, and this is despite previous warnings

Whilst it is hard to accept and understand the government has failed again....

Public Sector Buildings

Did you know that a third of all carbon emissions for the UK apparently come form our Public Buildings?

Furthermore the likely capital spend on public buildings will rise from a mere £43bn this year to an estimated £60bn in 2012. (Lets not even think about the fact that this is greater than a number of the smaller countries GDP)

The official launch of the Prime Minister's Better Public Building Awards will go ahead today. CABE are taking this opportunity to stress how large a role Public Buildings play in reducing the overall CO2 emissions in the UK.

They believe that adequate measures should be put in place to ensure that Public Buildings are not only built to a high standard, but they are also continually monitored during their lifetime.

Whilst once again we believe that this is sound advice, it just goes to demonstrate the lack of cohesive strategy from the government when it comes to tackling the climate change issues.