LOW CARBON CONSTRUCTION SKILLS ARE 'CRUCIAL'
26 January 2010
Experts have claimed that the UK is severely lacking the construction skills needed to make all buildings low carbon by 2050.
The Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) warned today in a pioneering report that UK climate change targets will not be met if there is not further investment in green construction training.
It is estimated that 80 percent of the buildings we will occupy in 2050 have already been built, though these buildings are currently responsible for 45 percent of carbon emissions.
Criticism was levied at attempts to retrofit inherently environmentally unfriendly buildings with energy-efficient technology.
A new discipline is needed to address the crisis, according to the RAEng.
Building Engineering Physics will enable engineers "to think of buildings and their environments as complete energy systems".
Among their recommendations are intensive training in green construction and more government support in measuring carbon emissions from buildings.
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