Entries for December 2009

As the UN COP15 Climate Change Conference started in Copenhagen, the European Commission announced that the number of signatories to the Covenant of Mayors on sustainable energy had reached 1,000

Prince Charles has opened a construction college in Dorset which hopes to become a Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Construction

Anna Walker has issued her Independent Review of Charging for Household Water and Sewerage Services, which calls for greater use of water metering and efficient use.

Chancellor Alistair Darling revealed his Pre-Budget Report this month, which included, among the hotly debated restrictions on bankers’ bonuses, a number of sustainability measures.

Ground source heating and cooling pumps could provide a third of the UK’s renewable energy by 2020, an Environment Agency report has said, but the technology needs a financial boost.

European energy commissioner Andris Piebalgs and the Swedish secretary of state Ola Alterå put their signatures to the Statute of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in Berlin last month

Full text of Chancellor Alistair Darling's pre-budget report statement

The Energy Bill, which the Government used the Queen’s speech last month to launch, passed through its second reading in the House of Commons this month and will go to a public bill committee in January.

A new Household Energy Management Programme (HEM) will be a “crucial document” for delivering more energy efficient UK homes, DECC minister David Kidney said

On day one of the Copenhagen UN climate conference, energy and climate change secretary Ed Miliband revealed details of the UK Government’s Pay As You Save scheme for home refurbishments

Newspapers from around the world put political, social and language differences aside to publish a joint editorial calling for action from world leaders at Copenhagen

Davis Langdon senior partner Paul Morrell is to be the Government’s new chief construction adviser

The BREEAM Accredited Professional scheme has been launched to recognise the specialist skills needed for sustainability and environmental design

The Government has announced plans for a second round of its much criticised “eco towns” programme

RICS has published a Global Climate Change Strategy, a UK Climate Change Action Plan and research showing that many surveyors worldwide are lukewarm about sustainability.