Berkeley Homes is planning to become the first UK house builder to be “carbon positive” – by offsetting more carbon than it produces.
The firm said it aims to achieve a 10% reduction in carbon emissions per employee over the next two years, and will use funds from an internal carbon tax to offset any remaining emissions.
Specifically, Berkeley will: have 1,500 people undertake an apprenticeship or vocational training; aim to deliver a net biodiversity gain across its sites, ensuring that new development positively contributes to the environment; trial new “smart home” technology to boost connections for new developments.
Berkeley’s managing director Rob Perrins said: “The climate change negotiations in Paris made it very clear that business has to lead on this issue. There is a strong commercial case for making a business more lean, green and accountable. Berkeley hopes that this decision to focus on sustainability during a patchy period for green policies in the house building sector will inspire others to follow suit.”
Last month, the influential public-private body Zero Carbon Hub was forced to shut down following the government’s controversial decision to stop pursuing zero homes targets.
The House of Lords has since blocked the decision to scrap the zero-carbon homes standard, but these changes to key energy efficiency policies has left a deep feeling of uncertainty across the built environment sector.
