LOW CARBON BUILDING REGULATION
“ Energy-efficient construction can and does drive value through the whole supply chain . The opportunity , then , is for the construction industry to lead the way ...”
case is already under way through various initiatives and public-private partnerships including the 2016 Zero Carbon Taskforce , Zero Carbon Hub and NHBC Foundation . The more which can be done to support this , the better .
Fabric first is widely regarded as the most cost-effective design approach in achieving high quality energy-efficient buildings . By designing a house to be inherently energy efficient , homes and other buildings can be ‘ future-proofed ’ by removing dependence on end users or additional fittings to achieve environmental performance .
This makes sense from both an economic and environmental point of
view , which will be a critical element of convincing businesses to adopt fabric first as standard .
Combined with this can be construction methods such as offsite manufacturing , which reduces time and labour costs , environmental impact , safety hazards and disruptions on site . In addition , precast foundations are tailor-made , which reduce time costs and material wastage .
These construction methods are also less carbon intensive and are ideal for use with a fabric first approach , bringing the whole project in line with best practice in performance standards . They significantly increase speed of build , which helps everyone from contractors through to developers to improve cash flow as buildings can be handed over more quickly .
Energy efficient construction can and does drive value through the whole supply chain . The opportunity , then , is for the construction industry to lead the way in tackling environmental challenges from this more holistic standpoint to ensure the future of both the industry and the environment .
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