Top celebrity Kevin McCloud, presenter of Channel Four’s Grand Designs programme is the latest to join the judging panel for the newly launched Sustainable New Homes Award.
The awards were launched in October 2003 by The House Builders Federation (HBF) and WWF - the global environment network - with the aim of encouraging sustainable housing.
Kevin will present the top award at the prestigious ceremony where many housing developers will be vying to win. The ceremony is being held at the Daily Mail Offices on 14 May 2004 along with the greenleaf awards.
“This award shows that you don’t have to live in a mud hut or tree house to do your bit for the planet. As developers start to think more creatively about the homes they design, sustainable living will increasingly become an option for us all.” said Kevin McCloud, Presenter of C4’s Grand Designs.
Comprehensive criteria for the award will include the following:
· Energy efficiency and use of renewable energy
· Ecological value of the land- how development has protected and/or enhanced biodiversity
· Minimisation of waste – resulting from both construction and the lifestyles of residents
· Water efficiency and recycling, sustainable urban drainage
· Airborne pollution levels and use of toxic chemicals
Dave Baker, Director of Technical Services at HBF, said: “We are delighted that Kevin will be involved in the awards. Sustainability is a key issue for house-builders and is an increasingly important factor in decisions made by our customers when choosing a new home.”
“HBF is pleased to be able to reward 'best practice' in this area and will highlight exemplars of sustainable construction from the house-building mainstream.”
“The Sustainable New Homes Awards will show how new homes are meeting, and exceeding, the environmental expectations of our customers and the ever more challenging targets set by government, creating firm foundations for the sustainable communities of the future.”“Our homes are voracious consumers of the planet’s natural resources,” said Paul King, Director of WWF’s One Million Sustainable Homes Campaign. “This award will highlight best practice and reward developers who can show they are serious about promoting sustainable homes and lifestyles.”
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Notes to Editors
Further information on the awards can be found at www.greenleafawards.co.uk.
Confirmed list of judges for the awards:
Kevin McCloud, Grand Design
Jenny Wain– Sustainable Homes
Paul King – WWF
Dave Baker – HBF
Nick James – BioRegional
John Weir – Haute Future
Richard White - ERM
HBF is the principal trade federation for private sector house builders and voice of the house building industry in England and Wales.
Kevin McCloud has written and presented all three series of Grand Designs, plus one of Grand Designs Indoors. When not filming, Kevin runs a product design practice, now specialising in lighting and furniture. He has designed lighting for some of the finest buildings in Europe and many great houses – Ely Cathedral, Edinburgh Castle, two European palaces, the Savoy and Dorchester hotels, to name a few.
WWF, the global environment network, takes action to conserve endangered species, protect endangered spaces and address global threats, by seeking long term solutions.
For further information, please contact:
Richard McColl, WWF Press officer, t: 01483412375, m: 07867697515, e: rmccoll@wwf.org.uk
Zoe Barnes, Marketing Manager for HBF, t: 020 020 7960 1612, m: 07802 336790, e: zoe.barnes@hbf.co.uk