14 October, 2003
The House Builders Federation has launched a new housing sustainability award in partnership with The World Wildlife Fund – the global environment network - to help make the aim of genuinely sustainable homes a reality. HBF and WWF share a vision of homes that have either a minimal or positive impact on the environment.
Pierre Williams, spokesman for the House Builders Federation and New Homes Marketing Board, said: “The word ‘sustainability’ has been abused almost as much as it has been used since it became a buzzword a decade or so ago.
“Taken in isolation, references to sustainability mean very little. Only by taking a holistic approach – examining environmental impact before, during and after construction - can the sustainability of housing be most accurately assessed.
“There is a widely-held but inaccurate belief that new development is likely to be environmentally damaging. Already, new homes are four times more energy-efficient than their Victorian counterparts and with the majority of homes built on brownfield sites, new housing development has been the principal driver for the cleaning up of derelict land.”
The award scheme has been launched to ensure that not only the way new homes are built but also lifestyles of those living in them, are as sustainable as possible.
The comprehensive criteria examined 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
· Sustainability of sourced construction materials and the use of low environmental impact materials
· Airborne pollution levels and use of toxic chemicals
· Health and wellbeing of residents - including levels of light and private space in finished dwellings
Wherever possible other factors will also be considered to assess overall sustainability, including:
· Environmentally friendly transport options and facilities.
· Availability and proximity of public amenities and features associated with the effective nurturing of sustainable communities.
The proposal is to allow entry into the awards scheme only for developments already reaching a minimum of the BRE Eco-homes “Very Good” standard.
Paul King, Director of WWF’s One Million Sustainable Homes Campaign said: “WWF is very pleased to be working with the House Builders Federation and the New Homes Marketing Board to seek out and reward the very best examples of sustainable housing available today. As house buyers begin to see the social and economic, as well as environmental benefits, they will all want to demand that their new homes meet these standards.”
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Editor's notes
HBF
The House Builders Federation (HBF) is the principal trade federation for private sector housebuilders and voice of the house building industry in England and Wales.
Application forms for the award will be sent out in November and the first developments to be awarded will be announced at the Greenleaf awards ceremony in May 2004.
For information on the greenleaf awards, please contact
Zoe Barnes, Marketing Manager at HBF
Tel: 020 7960 1612
WWF
WWF is now known simply by its initials and the panda logo, in line with the whole international network. WWF, the global environment network, takes action to conserve endangered species, protect endangered spaces and address global threats, by seeking long term solutions.
WWF further information, please contact:
Richard McColl, t: 01483412375, e: rmccoll@wwf.org.uk