The UK Green Building Council launched their proposals for a Code for Sustainable Buildings at Ecobuild. The report proposes a format for the code which will see all new non-domestic buildings being "zero carbon" by 2019. Owned by the Government, but representing a shared industry vision it is proposed that the framework should make it easier for industry to understand policy and regulatory requirements.
They recommend that existing standards and methodologies are harmonised creating a common language of metrics and measures. There are also suggestions that alternatives to BREEAM, such as LEED from the USA and Green Star from Australia could be used, making it very different to the Code for Sustainable Homes.
The report says that the Code should start by focusing on priority elements (energy and carbon, water and waste/resource efficiency) that are relatively easy to measure then broaden this set of elements, becoming more demanding.
Recognising that there is currently insufficient information to make a business case for sustainable buildings they see a need to gather UK data to support the case and enable "like for like" comparisons, reducing the risks and costs associated with sustainable buildings.
The report is available in full or as an executive summary from
UKGBC.
UK Trade & Industry believe that there are good opportunities to sell British companies' Sustainable products and services overseas. They brought 20 of their Trade & Investment Officers, with responsibility for construction, back to the UK to attend Ecobuild and meet with UK companies who wish to develop their overseas markets. The visit included a seminar on the UK construction industry, run by Competitive Advantage. If you are interested in developing your overseas business visit the 
Last week the Office for National Statistics published quarter 4 2008 construction output figures. They show that total output was down 7% on the previous quarter. Private and public housing were down by 13% and 14%. Interestingly, total output for 2008 was only 0.4% below 2007, or as the report describes it "unchanged". These can be downloaded from their 
